Jake Bugg was entitled as “the next Bob Dylan”. After his third album, the title does not apply anymore. It is hard to believe that the kid with a guitar is all grown up and that he can do everything by himself. Significant portion of the problem comes from the fact that the songs are abundantly weaker than any of the songs on the first two albums. Jake tried to cover his omissions with production tricks with the little bit of help from Jacknife Lee. The final result is very disappointing.
Why did I say that there are no more comparisons to Bob Dylan? The reason behind my statement is to be found in the stylistic diversity of the album with the folk-rock being the least present genre. In some occasions, we hear it in discolored soul that resembles Simply Red (Never Wanna Dance), while in others it is a hip hop amalgam called Ain’t No Rhyme. These leap through genres have surprised many, which would not be a problem If the songs were good. Still, most of the album is pallid. I had a feeling that Jake tried to broaden his fanbase. Wrong move. Not only that he failed to do so, he also let the magic disappear.
There are few tracks that the fans will appreciate. Livin Up Country sounds like a successor of the first two albums and it seduces you with the maturity and Tom Petty’s sound. The intro Love, Hope And Misery continues the twee Britpop story that helped him enchant many of us. That’s it. Only these two songs are worth listening to.
When I remember Jake Bugg from 2012, and Shangri La from 2013, it is clear that this is the weakest album from the artists formerly known as Bob Dylan’s scion. While the previous efforts were not succumbed to production, On My One is overproduced. I know who the culprit is.
