Indications of Greatness on ‘American Love Call’
Jim Shahen
Posted On February 28, 2019
Durand Jones and the Indications is an intriguing band. The name’s a bit misleading, but not in a bad way. It conjures up images of classic soul groups — James Brown and the Fantastic Flames, Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings — helmed by a lights-out, dynamic lead singer. And it’s not that Durand Jones isn’t that. He definitely is, his powerful, throaty vocals comparable to a less world-weary Otis Redding or Charles Bradley.
Where the formula that Durand Jones and the Indications is built upon deviates from the expected is that the group boasts a second, equally gifted vocalist. Indications drummer Aaron Frazer possesses a gorgeous falsetto that’s pure Philly soul-inspired. This combination of the belter in Jones and the crooner in Frazer creates for an interesting dynamic, one that the quintet dives deep into on American Love Call.
The outfit’s second LP, American Love Call is a showcase for their collective growth in the couple of years since their eponymous 2016 debut. That album laid down the sonic template — funky bottom end punctuated by Frazer’s hard hitting on the drums; shimmery, reverb-rich guitar lines; and some occasional lush string accompaniment. All of that is maintained on American Love Call, and this time around, the execution is more precise, more assured.
Lyrically is where Durand Jones and the Indications display the most improvement. There’s a burgeoning, pointed social consciousness across the album that helps differentiate the group from the slew of retro soul-style acts that have sprouted up over the years. Album opener “Morning in America,” with its mid-tempo groove and references to prescription drug abuse, impoverished schools, and a country divided along racial lines, is a successor to ”What’s Going On.” The Jones-voiced tune pairs nicely with another of his cuts, “Long Way Home.” They’re pleas for increased compassion and understanding in the hopes that those will be the salve that helps heal the nation and are masterfully constructed and performed.
The rest of American Love Call fits into two styles: Frazer’s Drifters and Delfonics-indebted love songs and Jones’ R&B torch ballads. Each vocalist does their own thing, alternating lead vocal responsibilities from song to song. And while each track is high quality, this approach is also a bit of a hindrance within the overall album format. It creates a touch of a my turn-your turn vibe that keeps the album from being as cohesive as it could be.
That could perhaps be remedied by more shared vocal tracks, as the one time that does occur, the results are outstanding. On “Sea Gets Hotter,” a song about finding love in the midst of the apocalypse, Frazer handles the verse, his saccharine voice giving it a dreamy feel. Then Jones comes in hot on the chorus, giving the affair a sense of urgency. Combined, this team-up provides a fuller spectrum of the emotion than the band could have pulled off with just one of the two singing.
It’s in “Sea Gets Hotter” that Durand Jones and the Indications provide a glimpse of where they can go next and what, quibbles with album sequencing aside, makes American Love Call a worthwhile listening experience. It’s a sign of a good band laying out the framework to becoming a great one.
