Jeremy Pinnell Goodbye L.A. (CD)

Rooted in his steady acoustic guitar, Pinnell's songs are interspersed with honest and classic elements. The rhythm section, all snap and shuffle, finds its purpose in well-trodden paths. The pedal steel and Telecaster stinger come in at just the right time, winking at JP's worldly-wise couplets.
Here the smooth organ slips gospel into the conversation. You can feel the room breathing and get a sense of the musicians staring at each other as their performances are caught on tape. And through it all comes that iron identity, the devastating heart of his work. Jeremy Pinn's voice is honest and wrenching; it can sound ironic, jubilant and debauched - all in a single line. In his best moments, Jeremy Pinnell portrays the joy and sorrow of being human, which is the best anyone can do.