'Alive and OK' is the new release by musician and songwriter Jeremy James Meyer. Recorded with a full band, live in the historic OK Theatre in Oregon, the album is an energetic romp through the best of country and Americana music with nods to the genre's rich past and players.
The album opens with the up-tempo honky-tonk rocking ‘Brick Wall Blues’, a stand-out opener that channels honky-tonk and country-rock with a dash of Warren Zevon thrown in. Guest vocalist Caitlin Jemma really shines on this track as her vocals intertwine with Meyer’s while the song delivers its message of positivity over hardship.
In a similar vein, the country rocker ‘Woodshop Rock’ lends itself more to the style of the classic sound of Ike and Tina Turner as it blasts its way through lessons learned by a life working as a craftsman.
‘Rhinestoned Cowboy’ is a beautiful country ballad that is full of emotion gained from a lifetime of experience. The dreamy melancholy of the horn solo adds mystique. Another ballad that highlights Meyer’s versatility as a songwriter is ‘Test Of Time’. Gentle reflective lyrics note the passing of years and the indelible marks the experience leaves with our loved ones and us. Once again, the arrangements are beautiful with horns to fore.
Proving that the Americana genre covers a wide spectrum, a dreamy jazz arrangement underpins ‘Bon Voyage’. While the shuffle of ‘Low Based Swagger’ is probably best described as a mash-up of The Allaman Brothers and ELO. The Caribbean swing of ‘That’s OK’ sounds like it’s come straight out of the Island Records stable with its flowing music and gently rebuking lyrics.
Taking inspiration from a wide variety of sources both lyrically and musically, ‘Alive and OK’ is a rich and versatile album that delivers good, honest, earthy, and authentic Americana in a genuinely exciting listen.