JMR – Ritual EP

Music has always been an opportunity for great storytelling. As a multi-faceted medium, artists and musicians have found different approaches to this craft throughout history. Sacred or secular, lyrical or instrumental, foreign or domestic, song has always conveyed (and always will convey) different multisensory experiences for each individual listener. Today, the focus of most musical storytelling has relied on clever and vivid lyricism, as well as fitting instrumentals and clever vocal techniques, be it solely for the sake of singing or for using one’s voice as an instrument in itself. The best works will often come across as transcendent, sometimes changing the way one encounters music. Think about an artist whose work has been the primary catalyst in this transcendence. You might have a few in mind. Just choose one. Do you remember where you were when you first heard that song or that album or that element? Do you remember when you heard it? Do you remember your reaction? Were you taken somewhere else by it? If it sounded even remotely different that what you were usually used to, it’s probably safe to call that experience somewhat transcendent. As a musician, songwriter, and reviewer, I’ve had plenty of these experiences, but more recently, none of them have come close to the one I had with JMR back in 2014.

I remember scrolling through Twitter that August when I came across a tweet from Anberlin drummer Nate Young. Included was a link to one of JMR’s songs, “Doesn’t Feel Human”. After giving it a listen, I was in awe of every element of the song. The production, the blending of genres, and the way he handled his vocal abilities were all highly impressive. I asked myself “Why haven’t I come across music like this before?”. From there, I went back through more of his work. Born Joshua Michael Robinson, the Lakeland, Florida native JMR found a fair amount of recognition with a few independent releases over the past few years, most notably 2012’s Aaron Marsh-produced Intentions (which is perhaps one of the most beautiful records I’ve ever listened to). After a gradual stylistic shift from indie rock to R&B, and a handful of impressive singles, JMR signed with Republic Records and has now delivered his newest body of work, a five-song EP entitled Ritual. Relying on a measured blend of guitars and electronic elements, and permeated by R&B and soul influences alike, Ritual is a compelling collection of songs that harkens back to that first encounter I had with JMR’s music.

Opening track “To Be Alone With You” begins with a slightly dampened arpeggiated synth line and a simple kick drum. As the song progresses, more layers of vocals, keys, and percussion are added and start to sound clearer. Around the halfway point, the drums cut out and JMR begins to sing of the day where the one he loves is finally secured as his own, a theme that’s been touched upon in previous songs of his. The highlight of the track is when he begins singing in powerful falsetto, backed by every layer of the track starting to crescendo into a subtle guitar taking the place of the vocals for the remainder of the song. It’s a compelling introduction to what’s to come. Following track “Closer” has been around since mid-2014, but it’s been remastered and has finally found a proper home on Ritual. Instrumentation starts out minimally, with percussion handled in a swing-like manner, shifting between a subtle kick drum and what one could take for the snapping of fingers. As vocals come in, JMR sings for the closeness of his love, like the song’s predecessor, albeit without restraint. By the chorus, the swing in the percussion has been replaced by slightly more-organic drums and a low register synth line. Further instrumentation includes several guitar riffs and visceral synths. Coupled with subtle vocal processing, “Closer” is sure to leave listeners wanting more. 

Originally featured on my Best of 2014 list, “Shivers” makes its way onto Ritual with a facelift of sorts. The amount of percussion has been severely diminished and in its place the listener is treated to a few more added synth lines and profoundly beautiful strings. This replacement allows for the track to breathe a bit more in contrast to the dichotomy of lush piano and striking drums found in the previous version, and it does so in a way that doesn’t rob the song of its fervor. In fact, it might be even more effective than it previously was. If the lyricism of “Closer” was without restraint, that of “Shivers” is unapologetically so. As JMR sings “Want you more than the night and, Want you there in the morning, With pink lace to untie you swore to me that you only wear for me”, the love he yearns for is reciprocated in lines like “Running shivers with desire, With your whisper, Take a hold of me”. Its accompanying instrumentation and vocal work is serene, and the key change going into the final chorus is undoubtedly the best moment of this song, and quite possibly the entire release.

Following track “Found My Religion” briefly touches on the more somber aspects of love as JMR sings “…I watched you turn to me, And the measure was set for how I would look at every other woman” and “Why in a crowd full of voices, I turn to yours and realize, this search could all be over? You said that I’m the best for you, You oughta know by now…”. The accompanying blues-like guitar, vocal modulation, strings, and synths sonically paint this picture for the listener. It’s equally plaintive and stunning. The final track on Ritual is “Bad For Good”, the most blues-heavy song on the release. From a lyrical standpoint, it follows a man who desires a woman whose demeanor exudes confidence. Musically, the amount of guitar and lack of synths is a notable change of pace from the rest of the EP, but it doesn’t detract from the strength of the track in the slightest. JMR saves the best for last as sweeping synths are introduced and then combined with an acoustic guitar, subtle trumpets, and an audio recording of what appears to be a adamant and petulant street evangelist. It’s an interesting note to end on, but an effective one at that.

I’ve waited for Ritual for a very long time. It’s been my most anticipated release of the past year and a half, with the previously released singles and repeated listens of Intentions holding me over until now. The amount of work that JMR has put into his newer material is undoubtedly prevalent throughout this body of work. There’s a lot of passion that’s gone into each song, and the end result makes for one of 2016’s best listens. Ritual is a very self-aware EP. It’s knowingly infectious and cautious at the same time, delving into the ever sought-after mystery of life, love, and loss, the highs and the lows, the dream and the reality. Granted, this transcendence I speak of might just be smoke and mirrors. Maybe I’m trying to fuel a bias based on talent and quality of production. But can the read of the room really be just as euphoric as genuine encounters with the unimaginable? It’s hard to draw such a conclusion. Even so, I choose to embrace the feeling, because it only makes the story more meaningful, and if JMR’s coming into the mainstream is anything, it’s a brand new story, and an exciting one at that. Until we’re treated to more, let’s call Ritual a captivating first chapter.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SVShLOUGKM[/youtube]

Score: 5/5

JMR: Facebook | iTunes

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