Jakob Freely drops 'The Elliot EP' like it's hot acoustic pop
By Kelly Vormelker, Staff Writer
April 12, 2007 | 9:25 p.m.
Jakob Freely has continued to produce addicting, melodic, upbeat hits with its new record, The Elliot EP. Its seasoned blend of pop, rock and folk sounds is perfected with this new hit record.
Jakob Freely released the long awaited The Elliot EP on April 5. The record is a compilation of the band's most popular hits, reworked and recorded to studio precision. Veteran fans of the band will love hearing their favorite songs in a new way, and first-time listeners will be instantly addicted to Jakob Freely’s catchy pop sound as well.
The Elliot EP starts out strong with the melodic pop hit “Dogfarm.” “Dogfarm” was inspired by lead singer Dave Huffman’s relationship with his wife. “My wife told me one day that she wanted a ‘Dogfarm.’ I really had no idea what that was, but now we have 2 dogs, so I think I'm starting to get her drift. She just wants a shit-load of them,” Dave said.
The tune is about the everyday quirks in a relationship. The lyrics are relatable and the song itself is energy-driven and fun. “Dogfarm” will resonate in listeners’ heads long after the track ends.
“Ava” is a song about lead guitarist Bobby Huffman’s two-year-old daughter, Ava. The lyrics are a look into the future, and Dave wrote them as an uncle giving advice to his niece. The band’s folk influence is evident in this song, where new addition of the mandolin to the tracks on The Elliot EP stands out. Jakob Freely’s sense of humor also emerges in this song, with lyrics such as “hide your favorite drugs in your drawer, your father won't keep them, but he might do them” -- a reference to Bobby.
“Radio” is a successful mix of folk and pop music. The lyrics speak somewhat comically of the fights and pains that can arise in a relationship. However, it points out that, ultimately, these things don’t matter because, as the lyrics state, “you are the best thing I've ever seen.” As with other tracks on The Elliot EP, “Radio” manages to speak of a deeper issue while still evoking a positive feeling and mood.
“Clark’s Predicament” is a folk song that tells the story of a man named John from St. Cloud, Minn. John posts himself at the corner of Division Street, outside a Dairy Queen and clad in a Superman outfit. Dave explains that after 9/11, John felt it was his duty to protect the state, throughout which John’s character is famous. This hit demonstrates Jakob Freely’s lighthearted nature. As individuals, the members of Jakob Freely do not take themselves too seriously, and this attitude comes out in their music as well.
Every student can relate to the song “Mr. Wizard.” “This is your cliché ‘I've lost my way song’ that I tried very hard to make ‘un-cliché,’” Dave said.
“Mr. Wizard” manages to be upbeat while speaking of drowning one’s sorrows in “magic potion,” something most students are sure to have experienced. “Mr. Wizard” is fast-paced and addictive.
The record, as a whole, leaves listeners with an unshakable, optimistic feeling. The energetic nature of each hit will instantly shake away any bad mood. “Their upbeat, bouncy sound may free you from a care in the world, be careful, you may start being late for things when you buy this disc," Dave Nourse said on the The Mojo Radio Show of Raleigh, North Carolina.
Jakob Freely recorded The Elliot EP in Athens’ own 3 Elliot studios with producer Josh Antonuccio. “He's a great musician and producer. He helped a ton by suggesting certain parts and mixing the songs in a way to help them,” lead singer Dave said of Antonuccio.
The band also further enhanced their sound on this record by adding Zeke Hutchison on mandolin and Todd Sams on banjo and mandolin, along with permanent members lead singer Dave Huffman, lead guitar Bobby Huffman and percussionist Dennis Foreman. The band has found a perfect balance with the additional instruments. Their sound adds extra flavor to each track, and the record also has an underlying bluegrass feel that further instills the addicting nature of each song.
Jakob Freely hopes to broaden their fan base with this record. “The music on this disc is certainly better than the last. Everything about it is improved, the song structure, instrumentation, lyrics," Huffman said of his hopes for the new record. "Hopefully, it will take us back into film, TV, etc. Or maybe a nice little distribution deal with a small label.”
The Elliot EP is available for purchase on Jakob Freely’s Web site, jakobfreely.com. Fans caught the live version of these hits and many more on April 13 at the Blue Gator, wher Jakob Freely opened for renowned Oval Opus.
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Track List
1. Dogfarm
2. Ava
3. Radio
4. Clark’s Predicament
5. Mr. Wizard