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Local singer/songwriter Jason Beckham will release his first full-length album, "Union Park and Magnolia Street" on Tuesday, July 8.

Unique songwriter debuts new album

By: RYAN BROOKS

Posted: 7/7/08

It is hard to believe "Union Park and Magnolia Street" is Jason Beckham's first full-length album - his experience as a musician and songwriter shows.

Beckham moved to Athens three years ago, he said in a telephone interview. Before then, Beckham moved at age 21 from Atlanta to Nashville, where he played venues for seven years.

"I decided to drive up there with my guitar, and see what (would) happen," Beckham said. "They call it guts or ignorance and being na've, (but) it could go either way."

But after awhile, Beckham came to a standstill.

"There were a lot of dead-end roads in Nashville, and I felt it wasn't anything I wanted to be a part of," he said of his move to Athens. "When I got here, everything kind of fell into place, everyone I met associated with music was nice."

JASON BECKHAM

What: CD Release Party for "Union Park and Magnolia Street"
When: 9 p.m. Friday
Where: Caledonia Lounge
Cost: Free

"Union Park and Magnolia Street" is pleasantly varied and competent, strung together with Beckham's distinct vocals and storytelling.

It is easy to compare his voice to vocalists such as John Mayer or Jack Johnson, but it is set against so many different kinds of sound that those examples lose relevance as the album plays on.

The album is steady and heavy one moment, then somber and reflective the next.

"Open Your Eyes," the opening track, is bold and pumped with hard guitar riffs. Set against Beckham's soulful voice, it evokes heavy southern rock and blues.

This continues later in the album with "On the Surface of the Sun," a powerful track that, like most of the album, uses strong backing from drummer Patrick Ferguson (Five-Eight, Music Hates You) and bassist Nathan Rudolf to underline Beckam's lyrical narratives and sketches of painful hope.

Acoustic tracks such as "I'd Love to Watch a Train" and "Leads Me to You" are each unique and satisfying and are a more natural, if subdued, fit for the songwriter.

"I've always felt that I had both of these sides to me," Beckham said. "It's natural for me, really just a mood thing."

It is hard to pin down exactly where "Union Park and Magnolia Street" gets its influences. It recalls classic southern rock, Bruce Springsteen and modern alternative-country such as Ryan Adams.

"(I'm influenced by) Van Morrison. I enjoy everything he's done even up until now. Growing up near Atlanta, I listened to Drivin' n' Cryin'," he said. "I've never set out to emulate something, (but) I realize it comes through, but that isn't what I set out to do."

"Union Park and Magnolia Street" will be self-released July 8 and Beckham will subsequently hold a CD-release show July 9 at Caledonia Lounge.

The CD is a solid album that carries little pretense and should be accessible even to those who aren't fans of hard southern rock, polished and well-rounded.