Trinidad & Tobago based band JOINTPOP have been around in one form or another since 1996, and while my knowledge about that music scene is minimal to say the least I kind of presume that they are regarded as a veteran act at their home base. They have a good handful of albums to their name by far, and have toured the UK and the US besides performing in their home base. “The Pot Dogs” is their most recent album, officially released in early 2013 from what I understand.
I’ll be the first to admit that Jointpop explores a part of the musical landscape where my knowledge and interest both are limited. As an old metalhead that have developed a taste for progressive rock, the radio friendly exploits of Jointpop takes me to territories where my interests are few and specialized, and my database of associations rather narrow in scope. This write-up should probably be read with that in mind, and the concluding rating revealing more about my personal taste than quality alone I might add.
The aspect of this album that strikes me most is the root rock and Americana atmosphere that runs like a red thread throughout this production. Compositions featuring an acoustic guitar base, supplemented by gentle solo guitar details country style and smooth, toned down longing organ details of a similar origin and expression. Fairly purebred in most cases too, and while pleasant enough material for those who enjoy such excursions it takes a lot for me to get intrigued by material of this particular nature.
Quite a few of these compositions did give me associations towards the likes of Tom Petty as well. Whether or not that observation is correct can most likely be disputed, but I did get a feeling that his spirit kind of hovers over this production as well. Both in the aforementioned Americana oriented affairs as well as on many of the pieces exploring somewhat different territories: Combined with a ska-like touch on Super Apple, with punky vibes on Treat Me Like the Dog I Am and on the Rolling Stones colored Don’t Let It Slip and Let’s Pray (For Rock n Roll). And speaking of The Rolling Stones, I suspect that they would have loved being able to grab Dream Hard and add to their collection of tunes, this song sounding fairly similar to what they did before they got old and rich.
All in all I’d place Jointpop in the roots rock and Americana section of the music store though, as the majority of the material at hand fits my impressions of what that kind of music sounds like. My recommendations is very much based on that too, and those who enjoy that type of music and also enjoy the likes of Tom Petty and The Rolling Stones should find “The Pot Hounds” to be an album very much to their taste.
My rating: 67/100
