Review
North Carolinian blues folksinger and guitarist Jake Xerxes Fussell grew up
in a household steeped in the heritage and culture of the American South. The
son of a noted Georgian folklorist, Fussell's youth was spent riding around
with his dad while he documented old bluesmen, string bands, and Native American
artists. It's the kind of real deal Americana education that thousands of
aspiring Harry Smith scholars would kill for and, to his credit, he made the
best of it, apprenticing with regional blues legend Precious Bryant, traveling
the country learning songs by ear, and using his connections. Surprisingly, one
of the best things about Fussell's self-titled debut is how loosely he adheres
to notions of what is or what is not “authentic.” The material comes from
the great rural blues and folk traditions of the South, but his interpretations
are relaxed, unfussy, and full of his own unique personality. Produced by
experimental guitarist William Tyler and aided by a motley crew of Nashville
vets, Fussell rolls through an often obscure yet timeless set of early blues and
folk tunes with an understated grace and easy charm. Alternating between
electric and acoustic guitar, his fingerpicking style is full of nuances and his
warm voice resembles a slightly more ragged Paul Burch. There's a distinct rock
edge to cuts like “Let Me Lose” and “Pork and Beans,” with their full
rhythm sections, double-tracked vocals, and organ parts. Other standouts like
the lovely “Star Girl” mix old-time beauty with drifting pedal steel and
atmospheric guitar effects. He's not afraid to mess with the formula a bit, but
neither is he showy. The way everything hangs together so seamlessly suggests a
poise beyond his years. This is the kind of subtle record unlikely to make
immediate waves, but with a staying power that will call for repeated
listens. Timothy Monger – Allmusic.com