Artists | Issues | CD Reviews | Interviews | Concert Reviews | DVD/Video Reviews | Book Reviews | Who We Are | Staff | Home
 

Jack O’ the Clock

Portraits

Review by Gary Hill
This is the third release from this act I’ve reviewed. The group is consistently inventive and unique, and this album further cements that. If anything I’d say that this is a bit more mainstream than the other releases, but that’s just a matter of degrees. There are plenty of leanings toward, folk, classical music and more. I think this is my favorite so far from Jack O’ the Clock.

This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2025  Volume 3. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2025.
Track by Track Review
Josephine’s Fresh Cuts

Art music merges with trippy roots sounds and more on this number. The vocals bring another angle to this. There are some jazzy elements along with more bouncy pop rock type stuff.

I’m OK, You’re a S***head

Wow, the prog elements are all over this thing. The track has plenty of folk and other elements in the mix, too. It’s frantic, dynamic, diverse and crazed.

No. 4 Mountain

There is a lot of folk in the mix on this. That said, this connecting instrumental piece has plenty of classical music on hand, too. It’s intricate and powerful in classic ways.

Another Sunny Day/Star of Monster

Blues, prog and more merge on this tune. It has some alternative and psychedelic elements at play.

Year of the Gypsy Moths

This mellower cut has plenty of that roots music built into it. It’s also packed full of classical and dramatic art sounds. There are world elements and more. Yet, it’s all merged into something cohesive and unique. This is one of my favorites on the album.

In the Gold Coin Saloon

There is a quirky, playful groove at the heart of this tune. It’s all class. The distorted section is cool. The multiple layers of vocals bring plenty of magic, too.

My Life’s Not Wasted

Bouncy, fun and intriguing, this unusual number is cool stuff.

Lazy Tom Bog

This instrumental piece features folk and classical elements merged nicely.

The Gardener

In some ways this is more purely prog based. It’s still got plenty of the things we’ve grown accustomed to here.

Nature Abhors a Vacuum

Bouncy acoustic stuff with psychedelia and art music in the mix is the idea here. Bouncy and unique, this includes both tasty guitar soloing and some power vacuum cleaner sounds later. Ir has some jazzy vibes, too.

Puer 1

Frantic and more pure prog based, this is another killer tune. There is some pretty crazed jamming. It’s also very dynamic and diverse and gets suitably weird at times. Yet, it’s always tasty.

Twomile Island

Acoustic guitar gets things underway here. Violin joins as this evolves. This instrumental focuses on those instruments and brings plenty of world elements along with artsy ones.

Isolation Booth

More rock based, this has some cool sounds and grooves at play. This gets proggy and artsy. I’m reminded in some ways of Al Stewart on this one.

Stone Cold Steve Cactus In Mojave

This is a short instrumental with trippy sounds, atmospherics and some world elements along with classical ones.

Windigo Knocking

Folky and intriguing this still has artsy things at play. It gets more bouncy and driving as it continues. It also brings in some psychedelic elements as it evolves. That Al Stewart thing is in place here with perhaps some Donovan elements, too.

It’s Hard To Find Booze On Sunday

I love the proggy quirkiness on this track. It still manages plenty of more earthy, folk style sounds at play.

Puer 2

More driving prog is on the menu here. This really is one of the fastest things on the album. It’s one of the most decidedly prog things here, too. It has some killer guitar work. It’s also very short.

 

 

 
Return
 
Google

   Creative Commons License
   This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.

    © 2025 Music Street Journal                                                                           Site design and programming by Studio Fyra, Inc./Beetcafe.com