Since the mid-1990s, former Original Sins frontman John Terlesky has been releasing adventurous records on various small indie labels under the name Brother JT. This vaguely monastic handle sits well with his biblically-inspired, pantheistic meanderings in song; the “3” addendum reflects the size of his core lineup, which features JT on most instruments accompanied by longtime drummer Dave Ferrara and ex-Crack Baby Bill Melcher on bass. Additional drums and percussion are contributed by Jamie Knerr (Psyclone Rangers), but this is essentially the work of a trio.
The rock-band base is sonically enhanced by arrangements which are part ingenue, part cut-and-paste vandalism. Spirituals is produced by Neil Hagerty (Royal Trux), and with his guidance, the JT3 turn their hands to inventive approaches on each song, as if engrossed in some whimsical but complex children’s game, with Arcadian-sounding woodwind and synth flutters here, static bursts and corrosive guitars there.
A barely wholesome hunger pervades the record, channeled through the filters of religion, drugs and sexual tension. There are seven originals, some of which (“Be With Us”, “Mellow” and “Lord You Are The Wine”) have shamelessly catchy hooks; and two public domain selections, the wired-sounding opener “Poor Wayfaring Stranger” and a hopped-up version of “Mole In The Ground” that careens into a manic carnival of honking sax before subsiding into the closing track, “Say No More”, a distracted, loungey shakedown to an enduringly attractive album.