J.M. Hart has been writing songs for over 30 years. A family-man & avid record collector, after previously collaborating with other performing artists, he began recording his own material in 2020. He’s since begun performing live & has released 5 albums of original songs.
It took me a few tracks to figure out if I could get on the same wavelength as this album, but by the end, I was really charmed by J.M. Hart’s sincerity and musical range. This is an album that wears its musical references on its sleeve, to good effect.
Tracks range from laid-back classic southern rock to playful ‘60s psychedelia and a lot in between. What unified the experience is a spirit of human warmth—like when you can tell someone on the other end of a phone call is smiling. This is music by a human for humans, and in a moment where “content” seems poised to replace art, it’s a balm for my cynicism.
The heart and soul of the sound is J.M.’s voice. There is a feeling to the vocals, like the artist has experienced a lot of things in his life, but has only grown gentler and friendlier because of it. While it’s the kind of voice that sounds like you could hear it in any pub, there seems to be a solid technique behind it, indicated by a nice and even vibrato.The production needs to be mentioned too. It is a bit more involved than I had expected, but it never feels overdone. The use of effects is subtle, every instrument has it’s clearly defined place, with the vocals taking center stage. If the interested listener is interested in a more raw recording, however, the album also includes acoustic versions of all the songs, if it is purchased on Bandcamp. These sound just as good, just more direct and immediate.
One aspect I really enjoy about the album is the variety of moods. There are fun songs like “Marcus Mulcahey”, nostalgic ones like “Take Me Back”, or tracks that go right for the heartstrings like “Debris (Falling In The Black)”. Everything works together to give the audience a “lived-in” experience; a sensation that these songs are snapshots of a life with all it’s ups and downs.Overall, this is an impressive piece of art. Every musician works best when they write about things they have experienced, but not every effort results in something that feels so real and relatable. “Headwaters” does that and then adds additional surprises to it that keep the listener on their toes. The album is incredibly easy to listen to, but rewards attention in a most satisfying way. It’s an absolute recommendation from me!
Even though this didn’t resonate with me I can appreciate the attention to detail, the love for the craft and the sonic palate that J.M. is going for. There is a love for the craft and the tone of a certain era that is worn proudly, and I have to say bravo. I think you knocked it out of the park.
J.M. Hart’s ‘Headwaters’ is a gorgeous entry in the singer-songwriter canon bringing to mind the greats such as Neil Young, John Denver and John Lennon. One track in particular, ‘Marcus Mulcahey’, even brings to mind the theatrical whimsy of The Beatles where another track ‘Who Wins’ even flirts with said band’s orchestral flourishes by way of haunting Mellotron-like instrumentation. It even sounds like a lost John Lennon song.
And to boot J.M. even offers up acoustic versions of each and every track and while that may come across as filler material I feel it’s more like a ‘two sides of the same coin’ situation offering a different perspective as these renditions offer a more pared back version of the songs that makes these versions feel more like an exposed nerve. It really makes you focus more on the brutally honest lyricism that J.M. offers.
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