Album – rowjimmy DOT net

Out October 6 on CD, Lathe-Cut LP, Digital, & Streaming

Cover Art of J.M. Hart's "So Below" album.

Friends, I am excited to announce that I will be releasing a new album entitled “So Below” on October 6. Moreover, the album will be available for pre-order on Friday, September 1, on Bandcamp.

Largely recorded in my home studio, affectionately named Shrunken Road Studios, where I also produce the Brokedown Podcast, this third effort contains nine songs both spanning and expanding the scope of my sound heretofore.

From straight-ahead busker folk to fuzzed out breakup ballads to psychedelic spaces somewhere in between; the world opens up a bit wider on “So Below”. The title comes from the alchemical principle that is often paraphrased, “As above, so below.” But, “Below”, is where we live, love, and die. “Below” is where we fight wars, drink coffee, and gaze out at rising rivers. “Below” is what we can hold in our hands, so the songs are about that realm.

Once again a few friends help out here and there including drummer Ryan Jewell (Mosses, Ryley Walker, half of the recent albums in my collection), and returning collaborators Ben Taylor (Ben Taylor’s Finest Hour, JC Brooks & Uptown Sound) and Scott Ferber (The Jauntee). Mixing and Mastering duties were again performed by Rob Dobson. Otherwise, I play all of the guitars, bass, and random stringed instruments on the record.

“So Below” will be available on most streaming platforms as well as on Bandcamp. Also available, via Bandcamp, will be Compact Discs and a very limited edition, hand-numbered, lathe-cut LP.

“The Investigation of the Rainbow” - Johann Melchior Füssli (Creative Commons - No Rights Reserved)

Physical purchases will come with a special download of “Zones Below”, a digital-only album featuring songs from the album “So Below” remixed by some friends:

James Toth (James & The Giants, Wooden Wand, One Eleven Heavy), J. Moss (Modern Folk Trio Band), Ben Taylor (Ben Taylor’s Finest Hour, JC Brooks & Uptown Sound), Brian Mosley (Electric Catnip), Doug Kaplan (Mr. Doug Doug), & Francis Thornton II (Without Mirrors, Programmed Cell Death).

You can find “So Below” at: https://jmhart.bandcamp.com/album/so-below

—Further news:

In July, I got out and played a show, live, in person, opening for Jon Camp and Kevin Coleman. It was a small affair, conveniently local, and great fun. I’m hoping to play more shows in the near future. Watch this space for details!

J. M. Hart performing; playing acoustic guitar and singing.

(Archived news, June 2022)

“Slips, Trips, & Falls” my second full album, is out now!

Featuring seven original songs, “Slips Trips, & Falls” was also home recorded with a bit of remote assistance from friends. It is available digitally from most major streaming & purchase platforms as well as on my Bandcamp page (jmhart.bandcamp.com) where you will also find CDs.

I’ve even seen some favorable reviews this time around from Record Crates United:
“striking a fine balance between pleasant country-tinged singer-songwriter fare and cosmic Americana,”

and Here Comes The Flood:
“Hart is never in a hurry with his music, carefully choosing his words, and wrapping his lyrics in cosy layers of various string instruments.“

Slips, Trips, & Falls
Compact Disc | $5.00 Proper digipak-type cd sent direct from me to you. Compact Disc (CD) | Edition of 100
Purchase on Bandcamp

Album Notes

“Slips, Trips, & Falls” is a collection, sifted from the past few years of songs, that seems to hang together in some sort of way. An awful lot of them begin with the letter ’s’. This is not by design. In fact the design is generally tertiary behind vibe and pleasure (although those may be the same thing.)

The name comes from a night some time ago. A full and proper quorum sat vigil near the fire as the chiller did its business ripping heat from the wort in the tank in the back. Conversation rolled about and we told our tales, cataloging various collisions, incisions, and the vast array of decisions both wise and otherwise that had preceded the moment. My mind strayed often to the task of updating the record. The importance of a historical document is widely understood because, without such a thing we’d have nothing to look back upon, leaving one standing atop a pillar in the void. This, of course, is a fine condition for a few idle hours on the weekend but not an ideal fashion in which to be going forward through life. Keeping the document, tracking the steps, has fallen to me because I’m meticulous enough to remember to put pen to paper, besides which, I bought the paper. Though I’m not sure of the provenance of the pen. All I know is that the ink flows at need. So there we were, sitting near the fire and Taylor just drops this phrase and its meaning and I took to it, discarding the meaning and original purpose, seeing in it the various properties purposes and actions of this set of songs. Most any set, really, but, title in hand, this set formed up and made itself a whole.

The seven songs range from personal to political, fictional to factual, and some just settle right in between. Even the fiction has some fact about it and the realest of lines nestle into the most fantastic settings. A friend called me a story teller. I just think of myself as a songwriter; stories are just part of the thing.

“Wednesdays”, the first single (set for release in time for May Day), is a song for and about the working people and its arrangement is akin to the starting point for each of these songs. A little acoustic guitar & vocal. Maybe another guitar. Other songs asked for a bit more. I play a little rudimentary bass now. But when it came time for the real thing, longtime friend and collaborator Ben Taylor (ex- Bloodshot Records’ JC Brooks & Uptown Sound) ably took the call and delivered. Field recordings? Friend & neighbor, Will Thornton (Francis Thornton, Programmed Cell Death) had just the thing in his stash. On the closing track, “Ship of Dreams”, I knew I needed more than I could deliver. The ambient country vibes of pedal steel player Howard Hughes Suite precisely matched the prescription.

Enjoy.

credits

released June 3, 2022

Produced by J.M. Hart at Sunken Road Studios, Fredericksburg, VA

Mixed & Mastered by Rob Dobson
Cover illustration by Shanski
Design by J.M. Hart & Sean Bonney
Layout by Sean Bonney

All vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, bass, mountain dulcimer, banjo, programming, & recording by J.M. Hart except:

The Howard Hughes Suite – pedal steel (7)
Ben Taylor – bass (2, 4)
Will Thornton – Field Recording (1)

Thanks to:
Will Thornton for the loan of a bass guitar & use of his field recording.
Brian Mosley (Electric Catnip) for listening.
My family for their patience and support.

Find The Howard Hughes Suite at thehowardhughessuite.bandcamp.com

Find Will Thornton at francisthorntonmusic.bandcamp.com