The heartfelt and gentle indie pop on Jacob George’s latest EP is sensitive and delicate. Rich harmonies and lush sonic landscapes are weaved effortlessly into George’s personable vocals and heartfelt words to create these lovely sonic paintings that populate Yard Sale.
Yard Sale is the title of Jacob George’s latest EP. A 7-song ride of delightful singer-songwriter indie pop that shoots straight to the heart, hitting far more often than missing. The Manchester based singer and songwriter has a terrifically easygoing flow, whether to his composing, his lyricism, or his deliveries, making his songs feel like warm and gorgeous little indie pop nuggets with rivers of confidence and character.
Starting with the fantastic one-two punch of ‘Feel My Love’ and ‘Most of the Night’, George starts things off by elegantly showing off what he does best. The Travis-like, dreamy soundscapes created by grandiose acoustic guitars, gentle and moving accompaniments by electric guitar, and slow-but-steady groove on ‘Feel My Love’ are quirkily contrasted by the more bustling ‘Most of the Night’ with its rapped middle section and livelier pace. Both cuts equally warm and sweet, George’s playful charisma is very easy to see from the EP’s very first seconds.
‘Sorry for Calling’ showcases a more rocking side to George’s sound. With a quicker pace and an arrangement based more on jangly, overdriven rhythm guitars, ‘Sorry for Calling’ is an indie pop gem full of memorable melodies delivered in George’s youthful, colorful style, and deadpan, front-of-the-mix placement. The Coldplay-esque arrangement, alongside George’s distinctive vocal delivery, creates an atmosphere that’s particularly intoxicating. The syrupy synth arpeggios on ‘TIRED’ showcase yet another musical side to George’s music. The electronics are whimsical, melodies lovely, production rich and fulfilling, ‘TIRED’ is an immediately lovable, short, and sweet song.
The modal and introspective composition on ‘Swim’ comes in direct contrast to the previous ‘TIRED’. a slower, gentler, more contemplative and melancholic song, ‘Swim’ showcases a far more moody side to George’s musicality. More preferred to me, ‘Swim’ might be proof of the astonishing range of moods the short Yard Sale EP has to offer. A heartfelt and explosive indie ballad, the lo-fi production on ‘Swim’ is just so balanced and calculated, for a sound that’s equally approachable, intimate, and stadium-sized.
Jacob George’s debut EP is a truly wonderful display of this fresh face’s dazzling array of talents. A gifted songwriter and performer, George’s delightful compositions on Yard Sale are varied in scale and in color, for results that are often captivating, delightful to the senses.