J.J. Cale
Roll On

Campus Correspondent Review By Hunter Embry,
Indiana University Southeast


Few artists can say they have been creating albums for the last four decades and even fewer can say that it’s been done with relentless consistency, but J.J. Cale has and continues to do it well. His latest release, Roll On (Rounder), is a combination of chilled blues, folk and jazz that doesn’t stray too far from his early ‘60s recordings – and even more amazing is the fact that he recorded nearly every track himself.

With the late afternoon relax track “Former Me,” Cale displays his knack for understanding how every instrument (including his voice) can fit tightly together to create an almost effortless sound. Cale looks back and explains how only now he can attempt to understand the kind of person he’s been throughout life. He sings just above a whisper with two chords emphasized by a perky bass, dancing Rhodes and warm acoustic– all of which are played by Cale.

Again, as the lone performer, Cale switches up the vibe with “Where The Sun Don’t Shine,” a cruise track full of psychadelic keys, muddy guitars and stuttering drums beats that are all incredibly inventive. While the music is edgy and intense, Cale settles in with his laid back, lawn-chair vocals– matter of fact, but beautifully careful.

Cale takes rich vintage tones, strange riffs and reflective lyrics, mixes them in originality  and they just seem to flow right out of his soul. He’s a musician with a true gift and style that stretches far beyond his time and place– a pioneer of his own, self-titled genre. Roll On is a perfect example.