Though this is Chicago’s Young Man In A Hurry’s debut album, it certainly never seems that way. Frontman Matt Baron anchors the tunes well, while Meyer Horn, Nick Harris, and Teddy Rankin-Parker deliver precise work on drums, bass, and cello, respectively. Additionally, members of Father John Misty, Jeff Tweedy, and Willie Nelson’s band also make appearances, helping make Jarvis an indie rock effort not quite like anything else out there.
“A Natural Love” starts the listen percussively strong as expressive vocals from Baron align with subtle spacey moments, horns, and backing vocals that support the thoughtful atmosphere. This continues to the quick paced “Give Me Patience,” as synth, cello, and harmonica add much to the indie pop formula.
Though there are just nine tracks here, each one is thoughtfully crafted, including the folksy strumming and bass clarinet of “Many Things” as well as the orchestral backdrop of “Tired Of The Telephone,” where programming, hand claps, a shaker, and water can help cultivate a very unique landscape.
The back half is just as interesting, most notably with the album highlight, “Larkin.” A multifaceted tune, the spirited guitar solos, clarinet acrobatics, and busy display of indie rock prowess illuminate the talent present flawlessly.
Near the end, the ambient and moody “Joelle” unfolds like a dreamy episode of delicate, blurry beauty, and “Eau Claire” exits the listen a bit more forcefully, where thick guitars and crashing percussion hint at alt-rock territory.
This is an unclassifiable effort, though luminaries like Matt Pond, Wilco, and The Hold Steady occasionally come to mind here. Young Man In A Hurry displays expert texturing skill in this very literate and often fascinating listen that jangles, gets powerful, and even finds cinematic nods, too.
As far as debuts go, this one’s great, and I have a feeling we’ll all be hearing a lot more about this band in the near future.
