Jake Smith

Real

Rocketown Records

Grade – A+

            Jake Smith. Jake Smith. Jake Smith. 

It’s a name that you will indeed hear more about this year.  In fact, with the support of Rocketown Records and the quality of his debut, “Real,” I would not be surprised to see Jake Smith’s name on the ballot for the Dove Awards New Artist of the Year category. 

In a made up world of radio-friendly-overly-analyzed-pop, Smith is a breath of fresh air.  Smith’s influences are derived from the New Orleans culture in which he was raised, and the result is a fusion of rock, funk, and soul.

Between the intelligent lyrics, the groovy sound, and the high range of Smith’s vocals, it is so easy to get wrapped up in songs like “Real Love,” “This Is Certain,” and “Shady.” 

According to Smith, the songs on “Real” are about relationships and life experiences, which is a common thread for most singer/songwriters.  As common as this is for the genre and as pretentious as it may seem to title a CD “Real,” Smith’s biography reveals challenges that would stump the strongest of faith.  Not one to capitalize on the tragedy of hurricane Katrina, Smith downplays his personal losses, but relates that seeing the destruction, and sharing with his siblings personal losses, did have an impact on him.  While around the same time Smith was involved in car accident as he was struck by a drunk driver on his way home one evening.  Lastly, Smith’s world was rocked by not one, but two instances of cancer in his family.  Both his father and mother were diagnosed with cancer in a relatively short period of time.  All this would surly shake anyone’s faith and it has shaped a creative outlet for Smith. 

When you take these things into consideration, you have to be moved when you listen to songs like “Run” and “These Things.”  On “These Things” Smith paints a picture of a family bonded together through think-and-thin with a God-centered life.  This song is an encouragement to me as I try to make a lasting impression on my children of the importance of a Christ-centered life.  Most times I fail miserably, but it is encouraging to see how it has worked in Jake Smith’s life.

Ken W.