SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DARREN JESSEE – CENTRAL BRIDGE

Darren Jessee
Central Bridge
Bar/None Records

Ben Folds Five drummer Darren Jessee’s latest solo LP Central Bridge is storytelling at its finest and features some very relaxing melodies. Jessee hopes that all nine tracks from the LP allow you “to really feel your connection with everything, whether its nature or other people”.

Jessee’s songwriting is on full display in Central Bridge. He does an excellent job crafting fascinating and engrossing stories and beautiful imagery which the audience can resonate with. He takes the mundane, like in “Mirage,” wherein he uses things like laundry, a white cat, or cobblestone streets and transforms it into something incredibly riveting and magical. Jessee captures these small, seemingly insignificant moments in life and makes them powerful and meaningful.

Along with being a great storyteller, Jessee’s vocals are impressive too. “Sunbeam” and “Baby Don’t Love You” demonstrate his soft-spoken, mellow, and gentle vocals the best which at times are very reminiscent of those of Ben Folds.

“Sunbeam” is the standout track from the LP. The song’s ending is magnificent due mainly to the dreamy and tranquil instrumentation. It is one of the best folk songs of 2023 so far.

Overall, although Central Bridge is not as good as any Ben Folds Five albums, it is still worth a listen, especially if you are a fan of indie folk music and Ben Folds Five.

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