When The Wallflowers crashed the main stage with 1996’s “One Headlight”, I don’t think there was anyone out there that could've predicted that Bob Dylan’s kid, Jakob, would have been anything other than a one hit wonder.
Women + Country is a collection of alt. country, folk and dust bowl blues that attain for an instant timeless quality. The songs are home spun and warm and juxtapose nicely against the stark imagery of a hard life.
On his second outing as a solo artist, Jakob is produced by Grammy and Academy Award winner T-Bone Burnett. T-Bone does well recreating the magic from the last time they worked together when he produced the Wallflower’s breakout album “Bringing Down the Horse” and its giant single “One Headlight”. While this album doesn't have the million dollar single, it certainly is their most fulfilling pairing to date.
On several tracks Jakob marvelously employs Canadian New Pornographer and all around solid solo artist Neko Case. Neko adds her depth to the background vocals and comes close to out singing the airy vocals Jakob lays down. Also on the album is Neko's own background vocalist Kelly Hogan who shines just as bright. All three voices mesh wonderfully to add to the dreamlike, dust bowl tonality of the album.
Women + Country's best are found on "Everybody's Hurting" and the drifting horns of "Lend a Hand". The latter Jakob appears without his female driven backing vocals to wonderful effect.
Jakob’s persona cuts through each song as he comes into his own a solo artist. His songs are sepia toned and dreamy but confident. And even though it might not come to pass, he is one step closer to being referred to as Jakob Dylan, and not Bob’s kid.
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