Gary Jules, Trading Snakeoil For Wolftickets
Trading Snakeoil for Wolftickets is the strangely named second album from Gary Jules, a relative unknown before his cover of the Tears for Fears hit ‘Mad World’ with Micheal Andrews reached the top spot this Christmas.
His original record company fell between the cracks of a corporate merger, immediately after the release of his first album Greetings From The Side, and this left him struggling on his own and searching for guidance. Then, weary from experience and in need of a new perspective it was on a visit to San Diego to see Micheal Andrews that the work for Trading Snakeoil for Wolftickets began. Since then Gary has developed a strong following in the US whilst touring with big names such as Sheryl Crow, Jack Johnson and Turin Brakes. Also, he has managed to sell around 10,000 copies of Snakeoil in the US – a fair feat for a self-released album with no advertising or marketing behind it.
Trading Snakeoil for Wolftickets demonstrates his tantalizing guitar playing and his captivating stories about the real Los Angles – not the glitz and glamour of Hollywood as the movies portray it but “A metropolitan city, more like New York than LA”.
The laid-back acoustic vibe of this album is sure to delight fans of ‘Mad World’ and British 80s classics such as Echo and the Bunnymen and Tears for Fears. Although nothing particularly unique and original is achieved by this album with its David Gray-esque sound, it is mellow and chilled.
The single ‘Mad World’ is the highlight and the main reason the album is being released in the UK so long after its US release. It demonstrates a range of musical influences from country to the almost pop-like track ‘DTLA’.
Although I can see how this album will appeal to some audiences, I myself found it slightly uninspiring and lacking in adventure and originality. He’s not breaking new ground but following the success of ‘Mad World’ as a chillout anthem, he is sure to find success in the UK with this album.
Loading ...