Singles Spotlight:
David James Allen
– “So Much Pain”

Hello reader,

How are you today?

Welcome back, or welcome if this is your first visit to SWT. Please look around the site and stay awhile. Our search bar at the top of each page is both lovely and comprehensive. Type in a noun and see what you get. You may be surprised.

Today I’m excited to talk about a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who deserves a greater following. He’s one of my favorite musicians that I’ve been introduced to in the past few months. I’m happy to be on this appreciation train, and I think you’ll soon feel the same way.  When I listen to David James Allen, I am reminded of Blaze Foley. Allen’s songs aren’t quite as downtrodden as Foley’s, so they’re not close to Townes Van Zandt’s either, but Allen’s vocals and some of the themes are reminisicent of both. Kudos to Allen; I think he’s crafting some fantastic music on his own, adding soulfulness and lyrics on his sleeve rather than trying to be a carbon copy of past greats. Think Nathaniel Rateliff during his folk and Americana days before the Night Sweats. With an emphasis on folk and Americana. I’m curious what you hear when you listen.

If the names Foley and Van Zandt or even Rateliff are new to you, I highly recommend taking the time to listen to each. The first two crafted some of the sad bastard-y and yet most beautiful music of the 20th century, regardless of genre, but specific to country.

As his Bandcamp page bio notes, “David James Allen is a producer, graphic artist, and maker of folk and country songs including those on his new album By The Summertime. He lives in Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada.” By The Summertime came out in 2023 and was preceded by additional full-length albums, The Architect (2021), Radiations (2020), and When The Demons Come (2017). Take the time to explore Allen’s full discography here.

Recently, on Friday, September 18th, 2026, Allen released his fifth solo album, Jubilation Potpourri, to the world. It’s a gorgeous album from start to finish. As the press release for the album accurately notes, “Whether it’s the countrified r&b of ‘Dukes Up (Since You’ve Been Gone)’ and ‘Low Mind,’ or the heartbreaking balladry of ‘Platform No. 12 (Old Friends)’ and ‘The Moonlight Waltz,’ the 11 songs on Jubilation Potpourri display an artist reaching the peak of his powers. Recording entirely on his own, with help only from Andrew Ivens on pedal steel and organ, David James Allen continues to carve out a unique place among his peers as someone capable of delivering a song with honest conviction, while also creating the appropriate sonic backdrop to accompany it.

It’s a process that Allen has been refining for more than a decade, but over the past several years—after moving east of Toronto to the wilds of Ontario’s Prince Edward County—he has been startlingly prolific. Beginning with 2017’s When The Demons Come and carrying on through 2020’s Radiations and the following year’s The Architect, Allen has amassed a body of work that stands alongside those of any of his Canadian contemporaries.” Amen. Well said. If that doesn’t intrigue you enough to listen and explore Allen’s discography, what will?]

The release continues, “Citing ‘Platform No. 12 (Old Friends),’ Allen says, ‘I wrote it just after I got laid off. At the time, I was the sole provider for my family, and the weight of that reality hit pretty hard. The song came out of reflecting on that pressure—not just mine, but the collective squeeze so many people feel when work dries up, when bills pile up, and when life becomes a grind. I started thinking about old friends I hadn’t spoken to in years, and how time slips away when you’re busy trying to get ahead. There’s healing in reaching out with a simple phone call, and laughing with someone who knows you. It’s a sad song, but I hope it can inspire people to reconnect and not let the strange stuff swallow you up.” I hope so too. Reflect, reconnect, and carry on. Or use the motto of your own choosing, reader.

From his own site, Allen breaks down Jubilation Potpourri quickly in a limited number of words: “I made this record over the last couple of years, playing most of the instruments myself, with contributions from Andrew Ivens on pedal steel, Wurlitzer and organ, and Ted Crosby on saxophone. It’s a mix of folk, country and soul, and I’m really happy to finally share it with you.”

Giving credit where its due, here are the Jubilation Potpourri album credits:

• David James Allen – Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Drums, Percussion, Piano, Mandolin
• Andrew Ivens – Pedal Steel, Wurlitzer, Organ
• Ted Crosby – Saxophone
• Mastered by Philip Shaw Bova
• Mixed & Produced by David James Allen at Littleknown in Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada.

Now that we’ve explored Allen and some of his music, including his newest album, let’s examine one of the best songs on Jubilation Potpourri. On an album full of bangers, we’ll discuss one in depth as part of today’s Singles Spotlight series. Let’s start with some important information from the album’s press release: “It’s all there on the album’s latest single ‘So Much Pain,’ a song that acknowledges the struggles we all face, while offering clear hope that there’s an answer in human kindness and connection. And, with the combination of Allen’s haunting falsetto and a woozy saxophone solo, it’s a song that stays true to the principles of Canadiana, as established by the likes of Neil Young and the poet Al Purdy, while presenting a sound entirely his own.”

It kicks off with percussion, pedal steel via Ivens, and some fantastic sax via Crosby as well as some organ before Allen joins in on vocals. The lyrics dive right into the sadness, eliciting a good amount of emotion for each and every one of its listeners. You included. Yeah, let it all out while you listen to this cathartic song. Saxophone is always the answer. Always include it in your songs, even if it’s a minor part. Within “So Much Pain,” the sax shines brightly and proudly, adding so much damn soulfulness. The resulting song is one that is catchy, earworm-worthy at times, while also providing catharsis. It’s a wonderfully crafted blend of both. And more than good enough to include as part of our Singles Spotlight series and serve as an intro and starting point for many to the majesty of David James Allen. Enjoy! You won’t be disappointed with us here at SWT.

But don’t just believe what I say; press play and take a listen to “So Much Pain” for yourself and tell us what you think of it.

Take a look at the cover art for Jubilation Potpourri:

The track list for Jubilation Potpourri:

1. Jubilation Potpourri  [4:24]
2. By Your Side  [4:16]
3. Platform No. 12 (Old Friends)  [3:04]
4. So Much Pain  [3:34]
5. Dukes Up (Since You’ve Been Gone)  [3:01]
6. What’s Cookin’  [4:03]
7. Call (When You Need Me)  [3:51]
8. The Moonlight Waltz  [4:09]
9. Low Mind  [3:27]
10. I’ll Shine For Me  [2:16]
11. Better Off That Way  [3:32]

Alex M Theel

Co-Founder, Reviewer, Content Creator, Business side, Editor at Scummy Water Tower Productions | Web

Scummy Water Tower Productions co-founder, reviewer, business manager, and editor. Thank you for visiting this site, scummywatertower.com, and YouTube for Water Tower Sessions and SWT Interviews. And all of our socials.
Questions, feedback, or more? Contact me: alex@scummywatertower.com