This is Jake Holmes’ second album, done at a career stage when recorded artists tend to let their hair down somewhat. Unlike his début album as a serious folk singer, A Letter To Katherine December has drums and occasional back instrumentation - strings or brass. There are three social-protest songs in this album. Two are mocking: ostensibly, they’re righteous, but they’re really anti-opportunistic. There’s an undertone of 'I’m gonna be blamed by these people for something not my fault' in those two. The third is commiserative. Happier songs focus on the same small-town theme: variety in scenery and activities; fundamental inner constancy in people. Certain places are reserved, by custom, for certain activities. There’s also the same folk focus: playing roles and assuming guises means covering up inner weakness. Some of these songs are picturesque, and there are occasional hints of jazz added in the instrumental harmonies. There’s also the occasional use of a “sing-from the-hilltops” voice. Katherine December has two live songs at the end: both are versions of songs whose lyrics are not always easy to hear in their studio cuts. The second has a psychedelic hint that’s removed from the studio version of the song.
You can download all 12 songs off this album here. All of them, plus 13 more, are free for new downloaders.
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