Perhaps best-known as the frontman of US rock band The Wallflowers, Jakob Dylan rose to fame with his band in the mid-90s when their second album ‘Bringing Down the Horse’ catapulted them to stardom. Certified 4x Platinum in the US, the album produced the hit singles ‘The Difference’, ‘One Headlight’, ‘Three Marlenas’ and ‘6th Avenue Heartache’. That album proved to be the band’s peak but they continued to release music through the years, most recently with 2021’s ‘Exit Wounds’. The son of the great Bob Dylan, Jakob has more than stepped out of his father’s shadow and he’s shown what he can do as a solo artist with the three albums he’s released to date.
The first of those came in 2008, ‘Seeing Things’, which has recently been released by Music On Vinyl. This new edition of the album is pressed onto 180-gram translucent green vinyl and limited to 1,000 individually numbered copies. The quality of the sleeve is vastly superior to the majority of vinyl releases out there, feeling super high-quality to the touch. A black-and-white lyric sheet is included with the release, which features a photograph of Dylan on the back. It’s the kind of lovingly crafted release that Music On Vinyl has become known for, and for fans of Jakob’s this is a real treat.
A moderate hit in the US on its initial release, ‘Seeing Things’ saw Jakob stepping away from the rockier sound of The Wallflowers, instead opting to strip things down. The end result in a 10-track collection of acoustic rootsy singer-songwriter musings, produced by Rick Rubin. Opening with ‘Evil is Alive and Well’, the album sets the tone for a record that is introspective and raw. Rubin’s production is subtle rather than overwhelming Jakob’s distinctive voice. It would be remiss to say that he doesn’t sound like his father, but Jakob’s voice has more depth and range, ringing clear over the refreshingly simple acoustic melody that backs him.
All of the songs on the album were written by Jakob with the exception of ‘I Told You I Couldn’t Stop’, which was co-written with Matt Sweeney. As a lyricist, Jakob is strong able to dig deep and deliver thought-provoking songs that are far deeper than they appear on first listen. On ‘All Day and All Night’, Jakob reflects on the relentless grind that life demands while ‘Everybody Pays As They Go’ features a circular medley that reflects the song’s idea that life follows the same pattern for everyone. ‘Will It Grow’ sees Jakob being a little more vulnerable as he lays his heart bare and ponders what the future will hold.
The album’s second side opens with ‘I Told You I Couldn’t Stop’ is a moodier offering, teetering on Southern Gothic and ‘War is Kind’ lightens the mood a little as Jakob reflects on family, exploring each generation. ‘Something Good This Way Comes’ uses repetition to reinforce being in a good place and being satisfied with your lot. It’s one of the more upbeat moments on the album and definitely more hopeful. The final two songs – ‘On Up the Mountain’ and ‘This End of the Telescope’ – warn of the hard times that life has ahead but Jakob assures the listener that these are part of life and there will be rewards along the way.
‘Seeing Things’ is a stark contrast to what fans of The Wallflowers are used to, but it’s more honest and deeper than the material the band has put out. On his own, Jakob channels his inner troubadour, delivering stories about life and allowing himself to be more personal than he had before. If you’ve never heard the album before now, don’t let its seeming simplicity fool you. Jakob packs each of these 10 songs with a punch and you have to peel back the layers to truly appreciate them. ‘Seeing Things’ remains his finest solo work and it’s never sounded better than it does on this new vinyl release.
Track listing: Side A – 1. Evil is Alive and Well 2. Valley of the Low Sun 3. All Day and All Night 4. Everybody Pays As They Go 5. Will It Grow Side B – 1. I Told You I Couldn’t Stop 2. War is Kind 3. Something Good This Way Comes 4. On Up the Mountain 5. This End of the Telescope Record Label: Music On Vinyl Release date: 7th February 2025 Buy ‘Seeing Things’ now
