Jason Downs - Bitch Of The Week
Jason Downs returns to the music scene ten years after the release of chart topping debut LP's 'White Boy With A Feather' and 'The Spin' with 'Bitch Of The Week' the first single off third LP 'Leave Me Alone', and he's sounding as fresh and vibrant as ever.
After becoming disenchanted with the music business due to the usual suspects - bad managers, controlling producers and ultimately with the sale of his record label Jive Records - Downs fell back on his other not insignificant acting talent which saw him in films such as Hairspray and Clara's Heart. However after acting in and producing films and making babies he recently rediscovered his love for music hence gracing us once more with his blend of self-referential blue collar folk pop.
'Bitch Of The Week' is the work of a more mature, industry savvy artist and displays a clever knack for mixing storytelling with catchy choruses and Tom Petty-esque vocals. Take this potent mix add a dash of country and bitter-sweet rock 'n' roll and sprinkle it with gold dust in the form of Grammy winning producer Malcolm Burn (Emmylou Harris, Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel - you get the picture) and you get a solid product that cannot fail but to touch its' listeners' aural g-spot.
'Bitch Of The Week' sees Downs sing "I had to get away and find myself again/.../ used to be a part of the big scene/But I'm through with that, It's time to start from scratch again/ It's time to do it for me...", and most significantly "I'm awake now for the first time in my life". This single is a strong statement of intent; that he's doing it his way hence lending the single a feeling of freedom and rebellion that is both uplifting and inspiring and a theme to which the majority of listeners can relate.
Downs has returned invigorated, ready to tackle his demons head-on and he's taking us along for the ride. I for one am not complaining.