Those who have known Jeff over the years have long known to expect the unexpected. When the first track of Skeleton Bridge Road reveals itself to be equal parts lullabye and nod to Buddy Holly,it should come as no surprise. 'Baby Girl' is a gutsy way to start a record, to be sure, and it's buoyed by a strong melody and performance that's sure to pique the listener's interest.
What follows, from the whimsical ‘Catching Fishes’ to the greasy, low down, lazy blues of ‘Creepy Eyes’; from the darkly poetic ‘Karen’s song’ to the serious yet soaring ‘Grinding Gravel’ and ‘How Far Away is Here’, Songs From Skeleton Bridge Road is a stripped to the bone, tour-de-force of 11 vocal and acoustic guitar songs culled from 20 years of writing and performing. The songs are born from heartache and late nights and frustration from breakdowns of vehicle and band. The songs born from joy and despair and pathos and…life. The performances on Songs From Skeleton Bridge Road are concise yet full of humanity, sung by a writer who did not pen them for an open-mic quick fix, but rather crafted them for the long haul. Lyrically, the words are carefully chosen and placed well in music that shows the enduring influence of Townes Van Zandt, Leonard Cohen and Jonathon Richman. The melodies are catchy throughout, and with the entire collection clocking in at a simmering 26 minutes, Songs From Skeleton Bridge Road plays like a driving, energetic alt-folk record with the attitude of a punk rock classic. And when the last strains of the last song wind down, you’ll find yourself wanting to hear the opening notes of the first track all over again.
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