We are blatantly introduced to the album's theme within the first lyric of the opening track "Scales," "When I first heard the news / My father was to die / Something much like scales fell from my eyes." Listening to each song is not an easy journey, but it is a deeply rewarding one. Just like the "broken and mended" feeling Jameson expresses listening to old voicemails from his dad, the storytelling and music of A Terrible Gift both cut deep but also offer encouragement.
Throughout the album, you'll hear a combination of acoustic guitar, piano, synths, or strings. The instrumentation is relatively subdued and only on a rare occasion does the energy pick up. Interesting musical choices will pop up on occasion, such as a toy piano in the outro of "Dissolve," or layering throaty backing vocals underneath his regular vocals on "Scales." Everything you hear is created by Jameson, which makes A Terrible Gift feel that much more personal. These lovely melodies, along with his deep voice, not only match the weight of the emotional songwriting, they amplify it. Even with many of these songs forgoing a traditional chorus, they stick with you after listening.
There is so much poetic imagery of his father's impact on his own character - from being a part of the shadow Jameson cast from the streetlight in "Scales," to the final lyric of the album expressing a desire to preserve his dad's kindness in "Dust." While not as deeply theological as some of his previous recordings, we also get some direct and indirect songwriting on how his faith shapes his perspective - most notably "What It Meant" and "Dust."
There are a handful of tracks, especially in the back half of the album, that are not only some of the best songs Jameson McGregor has released, but some of the best songs I've heard all year. "Hourglass" recounts significant events his father went through in his past and then beautifully closes with the poetic yet poignant lyrics, "The years of pain and the years of joy share one stream... You tell me through tears, you'd do it all over again." "Letting Go" is possibly the saddest song on the record; backed by an acoustic guitar riff that is reminiscent of the hymn "How Deep The Father's Love For Us," Jameson shares how he opened up to struggling with everything about his dying father and how he responded. "You did not then need my strength / Just wanted one last time to be for me / A comfort within reach / To parent me within my grief." Using that specific melody is a clever way of saying, without words, that his dad exuded the fatherly love of God. Other album highlights include "What It Meant," with its mesmerizing storytelling, "Scales," with its energy-filled bridge, and "Dissolve," which deals with overwhelming anxiety.
Typically, a weighty album like this would be difficult to listen to often, but despite its emotionally steep buy-in price, it keeps drawing me back in. The way you can sense Jameson processing through his thoughts and feelings in the music is vulnerable and refreshing. He often sits in the pain and shies away from offering answers. And yet, through it all, there is a thread of hope. For as raw as everything feels, the songs are strangely accessible. Possibly some of that is due to the good production value where everything feels appropriately mixed and engineered. However, a larger part is that Jameson has expertly crafted each song in a way that is immensely engaging. A Terrible Gift is an incredible achievement. Not only is this a great tribute to Jameson's father, but it is also a wonderful artistic resource to help others process their grief.
- Review date: 11/12/24, written by Christopher Smith of Jesusfreakhideout.com
Record Label: None
Album length: 11 tracks: 44 minutes, 44 seconds
Street Date: November 15, 2024
Buy It: Bandcamp
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