Zach Jones - "Like The Tide"/"Yesterday of No Return"

I've had the pleasure of reviewing a couple of remarkable albums by Zach Jones in the past. And while it has been several years since Jones released his stunning long player Love What You Love, he recently launched a series of singles that continues with the newly-issued "Like The Tide". Hailing from Portland, Maine and now based on the West Coast, Jones is a singer/songwriter of great talent and exquisite taste. He draws from the timeless melodies of '60s pop and soul music while still incorporating many modern influences and his own creative vision of pop-rock. "Like The Tide" is the third single in the series Jones began last October. Honestly, I love the idea of releasing music in small batches like this. As a fan, I like being able to focus more on individual songs and really savor each of them. "Like The Tide" was written with the intention of showing the influence of Western music. While not deliberately a "country rock" song, it came out very Byrds-like to my ears. It's simply a gorgeous pop song, and Jones' vocal is absolutely radiant. I love the small touches as well, such as the use of harmonica and handclaps. The song reflects on the way we often measure our lives by the passing of years. As we think back to our triumphs and setbacks, the friends we've gained, and the friends we've lost, it can often get overwhelming. In comparing these constant changes in our lives to the phases of tides, Jones shows great perception of the human experience. The second track "Yesterday of No Return" has a similar theme but a slightly different musical style. Here Jones goes the psychedelic/baroque pop route with definite shades of The Zombies. He really shows his skill for crafting songs built on a foundation of melody. This is a pretty little number with a hopeful message about leaving the past behind and moving towards a brighter future.

For this latest single, Jones has expanded the audio package with demo versions of both tracks and a full podcast explaining the entire story behind the creation of "Like The Tide". He takes you through the conception, writing, demoing, and production of the song. I found this account fascinating, and I will be thrilled if Jones continues to do this with future singles. It really gives you an insight into his creative process and the way one little idea can blossom into a fully realized pop song. Having been an '80s kid, I fondly recall staying up late at night and listening to syndicated "rockumentaries" where recording artists would talk about their craft and the inspiration behind their music. The Behind The Tunes: "Like The Tide" podcast reminds me of that. Especially now when the importance of music in our lives has been heightened, this is the sort of thing I really enjoy. I love digging deep into a piece of music and appreciating every marvelous detail. It's tremendously cool to get an artist's personal perspective on a song and what it means to them. 

All three installments in Zach Jones' singles series are available via his Bandcamp. In addition to "Like The Tide", I also highly recommend last fall's "October's Almost Over". It's a beautiful song and a perfect example of what all "soft" rock should aspire to be. Let's hope that there any more singles to come in this series!



-L.R.

https://zachjonestunes.bandcamp.com/album/like-the-tide-yesterday-of-no-return 
https://www.facebook.com/ZachJonesTunes/ 
http://www.zachjonestunes.com/