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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
A lot has happened between the release of Just Jack's first album and his second album, Overtones. When The Outer Marker debuted in 2002, it was overshadowed by The Streets' first album, Original Pirate Material. Now, though, Just Jack, a.k.a. Jack Allsop, is getting some long-deserved recognition. There are, after all, strong similarities between Just Jack and The Streets' Mike Skinner. Both artists have an ultra-laid-back and laconic delivery style, and both are quintessentially English in sound and subject material. However, where Skinner has made his reputation for his witticisms and cheeky observations, Just Jack is far more serious-minded. His observations are of a different world than the council estates of Skinner' lyrics. Instead, Just Jack spins tales of middle class ennui ("Lost"), an inability to communicate with his girlfriend ("I Talk Too Much"), or the loss of his youth ("Hold On"). But it's not all gloominess here: "Glory Days" skips along with a summery jaunty beat and a bright brass break that perfectly depicts the elation that comes after a period of depression. Like Just Jack himself, Overtones is mature and thoughtful, proving that hip hop need not necessarily be by, for or about kids. --Ted Kord
Review
Most of us probably hadn't heard of Just Jack before the very end of 2006. Then suddenly he's everywhere – selling out gigs, hitting the top echelons of the charts and appearing on every television show that'll have him. Little did we know that he'd done all this before with debut album The Outer Market, released in 2002. He didn't have the benefits of a major label behind him then and his single charted 162 places lower than "Starz In Their Eyes" did. His breakthrough hit, an ode to the 15 minutes of fame culture, shouldn't be mistaken as a one hit wonder.
It'd be easy to label Jack as the new Mike Skinner. After all he is from that same urban decadance camp of talky-singing over toe-tapping melodies. But there's something very different about Jack. While The Streets have a whale of a time sampling house and garage styles, Jack is much more chilled out, working instead with a groovier hip swing. The quite astounding opening track "Writers Block" has a shuffling disco bassline while "Hold On" takes a 90s piano based funky house track complete with rousing female vocalist and transforms it into a haunting melody perfect for a Baleric sunset.
Honest to the core, Jack doesn't want to just accept what life has dealt him. He questions and analyses everything thrown at him. During come down track "Disco Friends" you can imagine him in a nightclub standing on the edge of a dancefloor furiously scribbling lyrics into a notepad.
Despite describing himself as a 'cheeky chappy' not everything is as chipper as "Starz In Their Eyes". The Specials-esque could-be Bond Theme "Lost" and emotional penultimate track "Mourning Morning" are two examples. In the latter he bemoans the loss of a relationship set against lush melancholy strings, Jack sings "I really want you to stay but I know you have to go." It's almost the sentiment we feel when coming to the end of this album. We’re glad you’re back Jack. --Talia Kraines
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Like most newcomers to just Jack I heard "Stars in there eyes" and thought what a great track, who is this guy. Now I find myself sat here 3 hours later having listened to Overtones 3 times over and over again. It gets better every time believe me. The funky tunes get funkier, the streetwise lyrics get more street. This is truly great, modern british music. This guy deserves a lot of props and in my humble opinion is streets ahead of the Street, really does skin Skinner. No time, Writers Block, Disco Friends my favourite tracks.... Roll on the third album...
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I just can't rate this album high enough.. Every track is a good one- No fillers. His lyrics are great and so are the tunes. Buy It!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The follow-up to the patchy `The Outer Marker' is a little gem. Jack Alsopp's lackadaisical vocals coupled with hip-hop beats and topped-off with a Disco sensibility, is as intelligent, witty and droll as anything by Morrissey, Neil Tennant, Mike Skinner, Eminem or Paul Heaton of The Beautiful South; whilst the standout track 2007's ubiquitous `Starz in Their Eyes' - a searing indictment of fleeting fame - is merely the icing on a very impressive cake. Other key tracks are the cheeky `Glory Days' and punning `Disco Friends', but every one's a winner on Overtones; let's just hope Jack gets the recognition he so richly deserves.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Dated, but still pleasurable
It's definitely not a 'hard' album but there are still pleasures to be found in it.
Obviously there's the smash hit Starz In Their Eyes but that aside there are snippets... Read more
Obviously there's the smash hit Starz In Their Eyes but that aside there are snippets... Read more
Published 2 months ago by D. Smith
Not for me
Unfortunately this CD was not what we expected from the Overtones. Their close harmony singing did not feature at all - instead we were treated to rap and swearing. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Curly
Mellow and surprisingly tuneful
I'd never heard of Just Jack until "Starz In Their Eyes" (which, on the album, is a slightly longer version than the single with a slow break in the middle) but I'm pleasantly... Read more
Published on 20 Dec 2007 by DaveW
i love this album!
I love this album so much!
Sometimes when I hear the innane whitterings that some artists attempt to pass off as lyrics (you know who you are Mr Mc Cartney,) I despair. Read more
Sometimes when I hear the innane whitterings that some artists attempt to pass off as lyrics (you know who you are Mr Mc Cartney,) I despair. Read more
Published on 6 July 2007 by elizalight
Writers block??? Not entirely
This is the second offering of Just Jack and I must say for me it has been eagerly awaited. His first album was fantastic though seemed to not reach the audiences it deserved with... Read more
Published on 25 Jan 2007 by D. Smith
Worth a listen
Have had Jack's first CD "The Outer Marker" for a while now and in my humble opinion it's a wee masterpiece. Read more
Published on 10 Jan 2007 by Craig A. Ritchie
Only a few weeks to go!!!!!!
PLEASE TAKE MY MONEY, I NEED A COPY!!!!!!!
I still LOVE the "Outer Marker"..... I thought it couldn't get any better, but guess what?
Jack's Back!!!!!
I still LOVE the "Outer Marker"..... I thought it couldn't get any better, but guess what?
Jack's Back!!!!!
Published on 6 Jan 2007 by Parker
Just...Brilliant
Now, I have raved about Just Jack for years. His first album "The Outer Marker" was quite a quiet affair, but going only by the case I decided to take a punt on it. Read more
Published on 5 Jan 2007 by Mr. JP CARNON
Compared to The Outer Marker?
Eagerly aniticipating this release as when I first discovered Just Jack's first album about 4 years ago, I fell in love with it straight away and couldn't get enough. Read more
Published on 3 Jan 2007 by R. Bindarh
Im sure its gona be great!
Actually, the first review by Spandexy froghead "Spandexy" was wrong. The first single from this album is writers block, and I must say, its one of the best tunes of the year in my... Read more
Published on 29 Dec 2006 by Spiky k
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