Apparently, ‘Highway 99’ is Jess Grant’s 18th independently released studio project. How impressive is that? Fiercely driving his artistic journey, the American artist has been hypnotising listeners for the past twenty years, sharing nuggets of roaring rock and heartfelt lyricism to anyone keen to accept them. We certainly are, and so ‘Highway 99’ is what we get. Grant’s latest effort, the album signals the great deal of inspiration still left in the Edmonds, WA-based talent.
Packed with wholesome rock and blues character, ‘Highway 99’ showcases Jess Grant’s earthy and raw vocals, evoking a luscious, playful vibe that’s a joy to listen to. Singing about the ups and downs of everyday life, Grant ties such vivid storytelling to more general societal and personal themes. Accompanying Jess on the record, we find Ben Smith, Andy Stoller, and Ryan Waters. Billboard Top Ten producer Eric Lilavois is on technical duties.
Dialling into the album, it’s worth mentioning the focus track ‘Knight Mare on Yelm Street’, a haunting, more melancholic offering from Grant. As he explains: “JZ Knight has been ‘channeling Ramtha’ since 1987. Doonesbury spoofed her in the 90s, and everyone living near Yelm, WA (near the state capital of Olympia) knows of her Ramtha School of Enlightenment. This song is about her and her place in a long lineage of spiritual hucksters.”
Recommended! Discover ‘Highway 99’ on Spotify: