Full

I haven't played any music in my car except for this album for over a month. There's something special in all of Jon Dee's music that you should definitely check out if you haven't already.

In March 2006, I had the good fortune to spend four days in Austin with my best friend, checking out more than 50 bands at the SXSW Festival. Most of the acts were new to me, and several were really good. Best of all, though, was Austin local Jon Dee Graham, who sings, plays guitar and writes songs as well as John Fogerty (maybe better). We saw Graham take a noisy barroom crowd and awe it to silence with his amazing ballad about disappearing, "Swept Away." Then he rocked us hard with "Tie A Knot" before sending us on our way with the infectiously upbeat "Something Wonderful." Those tracks are all here. Other gems from "Full" include "Amsterdam," a cheerful song about a cheerful place, "Jubilee" (which reminds me of Tommy Tutone's incredibly catchy "867-5309"), "Bonaparte" and "Holes." Graham's tunes will grab you and his lyrics will make you laugh, or think, or both. I'm writing this in April, but strongly suspect that by the end of December I'll still think of "Full" as my favorite album all year.

Some of these songs I had heard back in October in an acoustic set Jon Dee performed in Chicago with fellow "Resentments" band mate Scrappy Jud Newcomb. "Swept Away" and "Tie a Knot" were the standouts of his new stuff in that show as they are on this album. That's not to shortchange the other 10 songs on the CD. They are as great and varied as those you would find on any other JDG disc. Personal, heartfelt songs with great hooks and phenomenal guitar playing. Jon Dee is never sappy but he is also never afraid to be sentimental in his songwriting as evidenced in "Oh Dearest One" and "Majesty of Love".(from "The Great Battle") Jon Dee Graham writes about love, regret, and hope as only we middle-aged men can. He knows what he's talking about. I must say that I really like the sound of this effort as well. I have always thought that Jon Dee's studio stuff paled in comparison to what I have heard him play live. This album has an open, almost breathless sound to it as he stops one song and goes right into the next. I can't think of a better one-two punch on an album than the desperate cry of "Swept Away" followed by the hopeful "Something Wonderful". That's always been his way. Jon Dee Graham might pull the rug out from under you but, at least he'll give you a hand up.