In this day and age of social media, where influencers constantly woo sponsors and opinions are carefully crafted to enrage, it seems the willingness to not take oneself too seriously is becoming a lost art form. Southern California’s Mike Jacoby is a light in that darkness. From an album cover shamelessly imitating Elvis and The Clash to a song about getting clothes hangers as a Christmas gift, Jacoby has a history of musical satire. He and his band have a new album out soon, called Welcome to the Family, and it carries on that tradition in a mostly classic rock style soundtrack.
The title track sets the tone with the band showing off their mastery of good old three-cord rock and roll. It’s an invite, not to his literal family, but rather the family of people who will “stand up for what you know is true.” Red, White & Blues is diatribe against corruption and social divide, where “the country [is] now strapped to a homemade bomb, and the ignorant light the fuse.” Fine American Craftsmanship is a commentary on our values in a hard rock anthem with some nonsensical verses Michael Stipe would have been proud to pen.
Jacoby skewers relationships on a few numbers. Love On Love is an alt-country take on a past affair, and in a turn of phrase only a musician (or a poet) would think of he knows lessons have been learned, but while “history does not repeat, let’s hope it doesn’t rhyme.” You Poor Thing is an old-school reggae tune about someone who desperately needs a friend but can’t be counted on to do anything except push people away. High on the lighthearted chart is 85%, a cut loaded with ad slogans from late 20th century TV spots. Also leveraging levity is The 75/24 Split. It’s a 180 bpm zinger about an infamous highway interchange between Atlanta and Nashville, but could maybe also be a subtle dig at a past breakup where you “just have to barrel through.”
Everywhere you turn these days some commentator is explaining why a record from someone or another is “important.” They may or may not get around to adding color on the music itself. Although I’ve never talked to him, I feel pretty certain Mike Jacoby doesn’t give a damn if anyone ever does that to one of his albums or not. His records are meant to be enjoyed. So if that sounds good to you, Welcome to the Family.
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.