Performing with anywhere from 12 to 25 members on a given night, the soul/rock/pop ensemble from Asbury Park, NJ known as Remember Jones is quickly developing a reputation for its infectious, high-energy live shows.
Fronted by singer/storyteller, Anthony D’Amato, this bunch recorded its first album—2016’s Ladies and Gentlemen, Remember Jones!—in front of a 500 member studio audience in order to capture and preserve their raw, live essence on tape.
Now, with the creation of their follow-up EP, Tranquilizer!, Jones sought to recreate that same dynamic, live zest in a recording studio. We think they pulled it off.
Here’s what we dug most…
Blowing the door open with it’s EP title track, Tranquilizer, Jones injects your brain with a freight-load of sound—all while setting a tone for the entirety of the EP. Brass, keys, guitars, bongos, drums, vocal harmonies and more do their best to get you up and out of your chair in this funked-up plea to let the music do whatever it wants—to you…
“Come on baby, pain is humiliatin’
You don’t wanna feel that shit!”
A number of straight funk, You Got That Somethin’ sees D’Amato graciously hand the mic over to his talented background vocal crew. Think Bee Gees with its sick bass-line, and an intention to—once again—make you dance fools, dance.
“I’ve always considered myself a storyteller before a singer…”
–Anthony D’Amato, Remember Jones
Our Favorite Track:
The EP ends in exact polar-opposite fashion as it was opened with the slow, smokey and soulful, Why Don’t They Cry?. This final track is a touching bit of songwriting which examines the human condition and our tendency to constantly up the anti of our desensitized nature…
“This world’s been trying to change me
The people who surround look at me strangely
Because I’m the anomaly, in a society
Which only turns the other cheek to their own particular brand of relief…”
With a wildly talented group of players combining with D’Amato’s confident, tenured vocal prowess, the mission of Remember Jones’ sophomore effort, Tranquilizer!, is simple: They want to get your ass up and dance—dance your stress away; dance your pain away; dance your heartache away. But it’s also more than that. They want to accomplish this mission—doing no harm—using positive words and wholesome sounds. And, to that end, they’ve been wildly successful.
Whose lovechild…?
Madison, WI local legends, People Brothers Band, with hints of greats such as Al Green and Van Morrison.
BELOW, you can listen to music from Remember Jones’s album, Tranquilizer!, and connect with their website and social media platforms. Please support Remember Jones by visiting them online, and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing their music. And, as always, thank you for supporting real music!
Listen to music from Remember Jones’s album, Tranquilizer!:
Follow, stream, download & connect with Remember Jones online:
Share Remember Jones with your people: