‘The World as It Used to Be’ – Jamie Sutherland – New Album Review
UPDATED: September 6, 2024
UPDATED: September 6, 2024
Jamie Sutherland - The world as it used to be

Jamie Sutherland, frontman of Broken Records, makes a confident return with his second solo effort, The World as It Used to Be. Approaching this album without any preconceptions about Sutherland’s previous work, I was struck by how fresh and evocative it feels—a welcome surprise in a year craving authenticity. Sutherland’s influences—Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, and The Everly Brothers—are deeply embedded in the record, creating a sound that feels like a homecoming to his musical roots.

What sets Sutherland apart, though, is the distinctiveness of his voice. It carries a raw, emotive quality reminiscent of Neutral Milk Hotel, while his lyricism evokes the depth and insight of James McMurtry. There’s a genuine wisdom here, a narrative richness that speaks to life’s wear and tear without feeling overwrought.

The album’s production is a masterclass in minimalism. The arrangements are full and dynamic, yet intentionally sparse, allowing guitar and harmonica to do the heavy lifting. This restraint works to the album’s advantage, letting the songwriting take center stage. The music, in this case, becomes a subtle yet powerful tool to highlight the stories and emotions that Sutherland crafts with care.

Highlights

The album kicks off with a bang in Start Again, immediately grabbing your attention. It’s got that raw, Bob Dylan vibe—heavy strumming, loud harmonica, and a lot of emotional weight. The wailing in this track creates a perfect atmosphere, full of angst and desperation, with a real sense of fear underneath. You can feel the lost love, the regret, the fear of what’s coming next, and that urge to drown it all in a bottle. The production is spot on, keeping you hooked on every note as it builds up to this powerful finish. The added synth and keys give it a modern twist, adding layers of emotion. It’s a bold, strong way to start the album.

You Were My Friend  is a total shift in mood but lastingly impactful. It’s another classic folk song—simple, sweet, and melancholic. It hit me right in the gut, reminding me of the friends I haven’t seen in ages, as well as the ones long gone from this mortal plane. Sutherland’s lyrics are so colorful and vivid, it’s like guiding you through a personal journey down memory lane. This song is bittersweet, making you smile and tear up at the same time, and by the end, you’ll feel the urge to call up all those long lost pals. It’s a beautiful, heartfelt ballad and one of the album’s standout moments.

More Standout Tracks

Somethings Hurt a Little More carries forward the album’s deep folk influence with its delicate fingerpicked guitar, casting a mesmerizing spell. There’s a subtle hint of hope beneath the sadness, as if it’s searching for light in the darkness. Sutherland’s vocals are filled with a sense of confusion and raw pain, reflecting a classic love-gone-wrong narrative with no clear resolution in sight. The piano enters at the bridge, intensifying the emotion as he pleads to reach her heart—only for the song to cut off abruptly, leaving the longing unresolved. It’s a clear intentional choice, mirroring the rawness of heartache.

The title track, The World as It Used to Be, stands out as perhaps the strongest offering on the album. It feels like an epitaph for the entire record, firmly rooted in the tradition of Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie. A modern-day protest song, it tackles the world’s injustices with a clear-eyed urgency, resonating deeply in today’s fractured landscape. The addition of a full band and the backing banjo add even more weight to its message, making it a powerful, resonant anthem. It’s the perfect centerpiece, tying together the album’s themes with a sense of both reflection and resistance.

Final Thoughts

In The World as It Used to Be, Sutherland delivers what 2024 has been sorely missing—a folk album that feels timeless, authentic, and rooted in tradition. It’s folk music at its finest, stripped down to its most essential and evocative elements. 

 

Album Release: Sept 6, 2024

Favorite Tracks: Start Again, The World as It Used to Be

RootsnRevelry Grade:                           

B-

For Tour and Merch: Follow Jamie Sutherland

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