The keen reader will gladly remember Allan Jamisen. Writing about ‘Rise Above’ just over a month ago, we celebrated it as “a nugget of earthy, gloomy rock fuzziness with a certain theatrical flair in it”. We stand by our words; Jamisen carries the kind of charisma that’s hard to come by, boasting a vocal tone that’s hard-hitting and intense, all while retaining its calm and softness. It’s all partly showcased in Allan’s latest effort, too.
Aptly titled ‘Rock & Roll American’, the record shifts into a fiercer direction than its predecessor, with an uplifting, bold rock production carrying a great deal of nostalgic tones and euphoric guitar motifs. We can observe Jamisen raising the heat without breaking a sweat, with catchy female backing vocals offering a worthy counterpoint to his velvety, smoky voice. Allan also indulges in spoken word sections, a quality that makes the piece even more mysterious and brooding.
Hailing from Phoenix, the talented musician and painter seems to have found his unapologetically rock’n’roll identity, and the single perfectly translates that. Jamisen is also quite observant of the reality around him, offering a nuanced reflection on modern American society. As he explains: “The lyrics are a commentary about how it feels to be living in the U.S. today. The values seem to be inverted, convoluted and disorienting in comparison with the
view of American society that I grew up with.”
Recommended! Discover ‘Rock & Roll American’ on Spotify:
