Jacob Donham is an Asheville, NC, based folk musician who writes songs influenced by real life, nature and songwriters as diverse as Hank Williams, Stevie Wonder and Beck. His upcoming release is called Suncastles and is an eight-song album.
This album is very acoustic and folk-oriented. There are some gems on this album starting with the first song “Katydid Radio.” I really liked the instrumentation of this song. The song has a bit of a Johnny Cash type appeal to it but is more bluegrass-oriented. I loved the energy and tone of this song.
“Before” is similar but also pretty different in some ways. The lyrics and cadence of the lyrics reminded me of children’s songs. It felt educational. It works but the tone definitely felt a bit different than the opener.
“Sandcastles” is a good one. The horns sound fantastic in this song. I will also say the rolling snare drum is another element that works very well here. There’s a fun breakdown in this song too. “Cowboys” is a solid mid-energy song with a synth-filled chorus that I wasn’t expecting but enjoyed.
“Gold Backpack” is a great hook. I liked how lush and expansive it sounded. “Bigfoot” is more minimal while “Right On Time” is more of a slow-burn ballad. “Right On Time” felt like one of the more emotionally resonant songs. “Loons” has a similar energy and reminded me of a song you would play at night’s end.
Overall, I thought this was for the most part a cohesive release. I liked that every song felt a little different. Take a listen.
Discover ‘Suncastles’ on Spotify:
