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JJ53 is a one-man production by Jonas J. Smith, a near-17-minute 'sonic novella' with an early '70s heavy rock style"."
The decade of production work on this CD, JJS3, says to me that Jonas J. Smith III is very committed and passionate about his work.
I know, too, that this CD is a one-man production. The artist himself provided the instrumentation, vocals and even the graphics and logo design for this project.
When making a CD, I believe there are several elements the artist(s) must consider in order to make a piece of work that is enduring, if not marketable: entertainment value, musicianship and getting one's message across are key factors.
That said, I am wondering if this self-titled CD, JJS3, is a little too inward and personal to be fully appreciated by anyone other than the artist himself (or those close to him).
JJS3 is definitely unique – a near-17-minute "sonic novella" with an early '70s heavy rock style. The seven tracks have a recurring, interwoven theme, yet each one has a distinct title.
One of the dangers in doing a project like this is a tendency to sound repetitive. Admittedly, the musical theme within JJS3 is strong, but, as I listened, I found myself wanting more variety.
As one track flowed into the next, I became disinterested in the same vocal key, the same voice (although a really good voice) and virtually the same rhythm for most of the CD.
I listened to the CD a few times in order to "get it", but I found the heavy guitar overpowered the vocals to the point where I really didn't understand what was being sung. I wanted to hear the words. I wanted to hear the heart of this artist.
Is this a "fun" CD? I think not. Is it pensive and mood-provoking? Yes.
It is a trance-invoking heavy-rock sermon. It is not the type of music one would play for guests at a dinner party, but I think it is the type of CD that will appeal to an ever–growing audience of young adults asking the unanswerable question, "What's it all about?"