Hello Reader,
Welcome back.
Today we’re going to delve into Jake Xerxes Fussell. Let’s resolve this now, Jake pronounces it zerc zees. The North Carolina-based musician, singer, and songwriter is arguably among the most talented living interpreters and transliterators of traditional US folk songs you may have never heard of. Based on his body of work so far, I also consider Fussell a folklorist. Fussell takes traditional songs and ballads and interprets them with his own thoughts and perspective with respect to the past in his albums and live appearances including one with the wonderful KEXP (in 2020), and one for the amazing NPR’s Tiny Desk (Home) Concert in 2022. Both of which are housed on YouTube.
Fussell is adding to and carrying on the groundwork that traditional US music folklorists such as the incredible John and Alan Lomax, Moe Asch, and Jake’s parents kept alive because of their respective careers in related fields. Folklore and preservation are topics that I also could both wax poetically and learn passionately about for hours, but there’s a time and place for that. Folklore and its preservation in any subject, will always have a soft spot in my heart and a place on this site so stick around and you’ll read more of it in the future.
Fussell’s ear for the beauty of Southern folk songs began a teen. It was then that Fussell, begin to study and play with several elder musicians in the Chattahoochee Valley in Alabama. Eventually, apprenticing from Georgia based Piedmont blues legend Precious Bryant, soon after recording and touring with her. And he’s continued to tour since, sharing his music with audiences across the country over the past two decades, sharing the bill with various bands in venues of various sizes.
Fussell’s first studio album release was the self-titled Jake Xerxes Fussell (2015), followed by What in the Natural World (2017), Out of Sight (2019), and Good and Green Again (2022). And on Friday, July 12th Fussell’s first release via the fabulous Fat Possum Records, When I’m Called comes out for your listening pleasure. A few inspirations for this album were from artist Maestro Gaxiola (“Andy”), composer Benjamin Britten and lyricist Jane Taylor (“Cuckoo”), and one of Fussell’s mentors, the late musician, academic, artist and folklorist Art Rosenbaum who provided original field recordings for a handful of other songs on the album, inspiring Fussell and producer Elkington to translate and create their own arrangements.
Giving credit where it’s due. When I’m Called album credits:
- Jake Xerxes Fussell performed lead vocals and played acoustic guitar.
- the album was produced by James Elkington who also played guitar, piano, dobro, synth, organ, pedal steel, mandola, harmonica, and made arrangements.
- Ben Whiteley played bass guitar.
- Blake Mills played guitar on the songs, “Cuckoo,” “Gone to Hilo,” and “Going to Georgia”
- Joe Westerlund played drums, and percussion.
- Robin Holcomb performed vocals on “Gone to Hilo”
- Joan Shelley performed vocals on “Cuckoo”
- Anna Jacobson played horns.
- Jean Cook played strings.
- Hunter Diamond played woodwinds.
- Recorded by Jason Richmond at Fidelitorium Recordings, Kernersville, NC
- Mixed by Tucker Martine at Flora Recording and Playback, Portland, OR
- Mastered by Josh Bonati at Bonati Mastering, Brooklyn, NY
And now for some hype for your ears!
The first in the series with a common travel theme, the song “Leaving Here, Don’t Know Where I’m Going”:
(All credits and rights to Jake Xerxes Fussell)
The second of the travel related series, “Gone to Hilo”:
(All credits and rights to Jake Xerxes Fussell)
The final of the traveling songs, “Going to Georgia”:
(All credits and rights to Jake Xerxes Fussell)
Overall, When I’m Called is another step forward for Fussell and his experience, creativity and talent shine through on this album. If you’re a first-time listener to his, there will be moments in which you’re like that melody sounds various degrees of familiarity. Long-time listeners look forward to what his next interpretations will be. But they’re never covers, and always inventive and capture your attention and hold it. Carrying over from his previous work, Fussell’s vocals continue to be confidently sung, and his vocal tone not only resonates to your ears in the best ways, but it has a calming, comforting effect. The instrumentation and arrangements are crafted with love and care, and the result is lush, often warm, and always gorgeous creating a wonderful listening experience. The settings vary but it’s easy to feel transported to another time and place during each song. In addition, while you’re listening to Fussell tell tales on the songs on When I’m Called, there’s a shared feeling at times, based on theme, of where will we travel next on our journey? In more television-based media terms, will the narrative that was created on this album be answered with a sequel?
The first song on When I’m Called is “Andy” establishes the setting for the remainder of the album. A setting that our source material does not come from present day. The original melody was created by artist Maestro Gaxiola in 1986 that is featured on his Go’n to New York album, is played a breakneck speed. I feel like the description of old timey Ragtime saloon music is not apt enough. Envision that as your reference point but now, add 1.5x or 2x the speed. If you’re a wrestling fan, Gaxiola isn’t in heel territory yet as Gaxiola’s song was a playful ode to fellow artist Andy Warhol. Fussell’s song “Andy” starts with some great guitar plucking and picking before the listener hears Fussell’s warm and inviting vocals and melody, welcoming us in. It’s definitely Fussell’s creation, with a perfect pacing, utilizing Gaxiola’s lyrics. Personally, after hearing both versions, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Cuckoo!” opens with some easy-going acoustic guitar work that is wonderfully played as the strings vibrate and hum for the right amount of time. The resulting noise couples perfectly with the theme of the lyrics that navigate month by month of the Cuckoos life. Soon after some percussion is added to fill out the melody more and the listener may be satisfied with the melody at that point, as is. But there’s more as strings are added creating a small orchestral sounding arrangement. It’s an outstanding mood and energy which is then enhanced when Joan Shelley joins Fussell to pair their vocals. It’s a truly lovely pairing due to the differences between their vocal tones.
“Leaving Here, Don’t Know Where I’m Going” is a beautifully reflective song with an aching sentiment because of the verbiage in the lyrics and their repetition. Fussell’s vocal delivery alongside some incredible strings, guitar playing, piano, woodwinds and horns. Each getting their own moments to shine even as they overlap within the melody and vocals. It’s the kind of song that should be in a film as a character is in a travel scene, departing a circumstance, maybe in a car as they’re looking in the rear-view mirror and through the front and side windows. This song sticks with you.
The next song “Feeing Day” begins with a melody that trots out of the guitar maintaining a decent gallop as the song progresses. The lyrics tell of a story of a seemingly budding relationship. The French horns add a bit of warmth and touch of extol.
The titular song, “When I’m Called” reintroduces a drum kit and its progression is a good framework that the melody is created upon. The bass groove intertwines well with the rest of the melody which builds until around mid-song in which new instrumentation compromised of strings and horns is added. The result is symphonic! The lyrics are minimal in this song yet when paired with Fussell’s vocal delivery, tell of longing, despair and anticipating a future adventure.
Compared to the previous song, “One Morning in May” has a lively melody. It is a bit of a jaunt, moving at a nice even pace. The lyrics share a conversation between two characters, a soldier and a lady complete with implied lesson and moral. They give Fussell’s vocals a new chance to shine as he finishes the lines, accentuating them until the end.
“Gone to Hilo” has a melody that grabs ahold of you and doesn’t let go. The rolling drums, the twinge of the guitar strings, the lyrics themselves and the pedal steel ensure that happens. It’s a gorgeous melody. Robin Holcomb pairs her amazing vocals alongside with Fussell’s to further enhance the mood to this exquisite tune.
The lyrics within “Who Killed Poor Robin?” showcase another piece of folk literature by using an eclectic cast of animal and inanimate objects serving as the characters that give us a fable complete with a moral lesson. The organ and guitar are smoothly played at a good volume, carrying the tune and allowing all, including Fussell’s vocals and the lyrics to shine.
“Going to Georgia” is the final song on When I’m Called and it became of my favorites on the album upon first listen. The melody has everything to hook you in; pedal steel, steady drums that create a trot like sound when paired with the rollicking acoustic guitar chord progress, a bass groove, an electric guitar solo, even some chants. In addition to that, Fussell’s vocal delivery is again perfect in tone and cadence. As was often the case on this album, everything comes together so well. The lyrics are again minimal but poignant, telling a story told from one individual to another with travel as one of the focal points.
When I’m Called gets 4.5 out of 5 Scum Drops from me. I’d rate it as an excellent album, especially relative to all 2024 releases. It is fantastic within itself for what Fussell was going for and even outside itself for the casual listener. I have no doubts that it belongs within the accompanying 84th-95th percentile for this year. Very good sonic quality, instrumentation and a talented cast of characters assembled here. I’d recommend adding it to your collection on the format of your choice(s). You know me, I’ll suggest starting with vinyl.
When I’m Called Track listing (song length)
- Andy (4:10)
- Cuckoo! (2:48)
- Leaving Here, Don’t Know Where I’m Going (3:29)
- Feeing Day (3:07)
- When I’m Called (4:52)
- One Morning in May (3:14)
- Gone to Hilo (3:47)
- Who Killed Poor Robin? (3:53)
- Going to Georgia (5:04)
Total runtime: 34:24
I’ll always advocate that you take the time to listen to every album in its entirety. The process with to listen to this album from start to finish twice will take you just over an hour of your time. Along the way, you’ll discover your own favorite songs without the influence or bias of others. After a few listens on my own, the songs that are highlighted in green font above are my favorite songs on this album.
Jake’s great site with tour info, merch, socials at the bottom and even a tab to Fall Line Radio which is “a weekly two-hour audio show which explores traditional music of the American south and beyond,” that music researchers Jake and Jefferson Currie II co-host and DJ every Wednesday and where you can listen to previous episodes is linked right here!
Thank you for reading and supporting good music.
Until next time,
Alex
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!
Contact me: alex@scummywatertower.com
