Americana band Stellar Jays are releasing their second full-length studio album, Merit Badge, in early November. The record is a collection of songs that showcases a wider range and a richer sonic palette than anything the band has released to date. Thematically, the album revolves around love, with each track exploring a different facet of a relationship – from the sparkling magic of falling in love for the first time to the uncertainty of being in love but not quite knowing what to do about it.
The album opens with Oh Dakota, a pleasant introduction built around acoustic guitar and harmonica, immediately establishing a warm Americana atmosphere and giving us a good idea of where the record is heading. From the very beginning, there’s a strong emphasis on layered vocals and clean, crisp production. It all works particularly well thanks to the melodic lead vocal and the way additional voices and harmonies gradually weave their way into the arrangement. Above all, the track has a wonderfully inviting vibe, almost like a beautiful summer memory. The chorus is especially lovely and instantly memorable.
The second track, Jessica, comes as a bit of a surprise with its more southern rock-oriented sound, bringing to mind one of my favourite bands, Drive-By Truckers. The guitars aren’t quite as dirty, but there’s still a subtle distorted edge to the overall sound. The vocals are also a little rougher around the edges, while the song once again relies heavily on a highly memorable melody. A female vocal joins in during the chorus, adding another dimension to the track, and the way the different voices intertwine creates a beautiful melancholic atmosphere. In contrast, some of the verses feel noticeably more minimalistic.
The third song, Trap Door Heart, continues in that somewhat wistful mood, which is already established by its opening line: “When can I see you again…” The track features full-bodied, slightly distorted guitars, a vocal duet, drums and a particularly prominent, clean bass line. One of its greatest strengths is the way the different sections flow effortlessly into one another, creating a very natural progression. There’s even a brief guitar solo around the halfway point before the song returns to another verse.
Right Where opens with another prominent bass line, initially accompanied by little more than the vocals before the rest of the instrumentation gradually joins in. Although the song retains the melancholic undertone that runs throughout the entire record, it also feels considerably more optimistic, perhaps partly thanks to the harmonica. The vocal melody repeats and gradually builds, giving the track a fresh feel. It also avoids sounding like a conventional verse-chorus-verse-chorus song, which makes the arrangement all the more interesting.
The fifth track is the album’s title song, Merit Badge. It starts with a simple, melodic distorted guitar riff, with the drums gradually joining in to create a steadily building introduction. The vocals are a little raspy, too, adding to the overall atmosphere. There’s something about this song that reminds me of travelling through the dry, sun-scorched landscapes of California and Nevada. It’s the kind of track I’d love to listen to while watching the sun set as I arrive in one of those small desert towns.
Snowbird stands out thanks to Alison Perkins’ vocals, which take centre stage right from the beginning. I have to say that the whole song gives me strong Fleetwood Mac vibes. At the same time, though, it has a remarkably fresh sound and, like several other tracks on the album, reminds me of contemporary artists exploring the Americana genre, such as MJ Lenderman and Waxahatchee. One moment I particularly love comes around the 2:00 mark, following a guitar passage, when most of the instrumentation suddenly drops away, leaving mainly the vocals and bass.
The penultimate track, Part Time Gig, is once again soaked in the bittersweet atmosphere that runs throughout the record. Much of its emotional weight comes from Brian Seams’ genuinely beautiful and captivating voice, which is eventually joined by Perkins, adding another layer to the song. I think Stellar Jays are particularly good at this kind of melancholic folk rock, a sound that somehow manages to radiate both untamed energy and a wonderful sense of nostalgia. The album closes with Haunt Me, the final single. It has a lovely Americana feel and reminds me quite a bit of Jason Molina’s later work. The chorus is particularly powerful, giving the song an emotional pull that makes it a fitting final addition to the album.
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