Jaymes Reunion - Jaymes Reunion EPI have this saying that listening to a band’s new recording is like reacquainting yourself with a friend you haven’t seen in a long time. You get the comfort of old memories blended with the curiosity of what’s to come. Observing the ascension of Jaymes Reunion in the Christian music scene with the release of Jaymes Reunion EP is just like that.
Old friends are great, but you expect a little change to keep things interesting. Jaymes Reunion EP is a comforting appetizer which organizes previously released songs to appease the listener’s palate until the upcoming album release in 2010.
If Jaymes Reunion is a new name to you, be prepared to be pleasantly surprised. Lead singer Cameron Jaymes and the rest of this four piece rock union create entertaining tracks. Catchy choruses in songs like “Fine” and “Let it Shine” suggest the group may have some longevity. The lyrics of “If You Wanna Cry” and “More Than a Day” exhibit details of deep and personal relationships, albeit not explicitly Christ-centered ones.
Jaymes Reunion EP contains two versions of “Fine”: studio and acoustic. Both are repeats from “The Fine-EP” (released in July 2008). The song has a catchy, pop driven chorus and strong Maroon 5 influences. “Fine” is one of the most contagious Christian pop songs I’ve heard in a while. They should lose the acoustic version however. It could work for an unplugged album or acoustic playlist, but the studio version is stronger.
“Let it Shine” is one of the best tracks on this release. It’s been on the airwaves now for six months and may be the group’s most recognizable song. It’s full of clear, earnest lyrics describing God’s love shining into our lives through His direction and presence.
“If You Wanna Cry” and “More Than a Day” are everything you want in acoustic songs. Lead singer Cameron Jaymes displays his vocal abilities and musicianship with a bluesy heartfelt blend of vocals, piano, and guitar. A couple of lines in these songs stretch Jaymes’s vocals, but not enough to affect the overall quality of the tracks. “If You Wanna Cry” is the only original unreleased song on the album, making it a top track on the album. The lyrics of these songs are beautiful, grabbing your ears for pure enjoyment. We can only hope that Jaymes Reunion releases more songs like this in the future.
The only substandard track on the album is “I Want You Back”. It’s hard to listen to this song and not think of the first rounds of American Idol. I’m a firm believer that some artists are virtually untouchable. Michael Jackson would be an obvious one. With the recent passing of Jackson, I think most people could do without overplayed, substandard tributes to his work, however well meaning.
At twenty three minutes long Jaymes Reunion EP feels truncated and lacking new, original content. However, new listeners will be pleasantly surprised. I feel unsatisfied, but optimistic that creative and original tracks from Jaymes Reunion are in our near future. Even though “Fine” and “Let it Shine” have been around for a while, the quality of these songs give me hope that Jaymes Reunion is ready to hit us all with fresh and inventive hits for years to come.
Album :: Jaymes Reunion EP
Artist :: Jaymes Reunion
Release Date :: September 22, 2009
Genre :: Alternative
Label :: BEC Recordings
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Tracklisting:
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1. Fine
2. Let It Shine
3. If You Wanna Cry (Acoustic)
4. More Than A day (Acoustic)
5. Fine (Acoustic)
6. I Want You Back
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