Jimmy Wayne, Killing Me Softly | Album Review 💿

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he new record by Jimmy Wayne, the brainchild of British author Guy Hale, is causing quite a fuss on the scene. This project, which sees Mike Zito and Kid Anderson join the forces of Guy, portrays the life and events of Jimmy’s career through music. All of the music derives from Guy’s novel and is the first in the collection of stories known as the ‘Comeback Series’; the second of which is dropping in the fall.

The latest book, ‘Killing Me Softly’, is one wild ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat, equally as much as if you were watching your favourite thriller on Netflix. As we learn about what it’s like to be a musician who rises from the ranks of the unsigned to the famous, we spend the entire time affixed to Jimmy’s hip as we make our way through the story. There is a harrowing crime that helps propel him to the forefront of the industry, but there are also many relatable angles. Moreover, for someone who has been in music for many decades, a lot of what Guy writes strikes a chord of prevalence, despite lots of the book being fiction.

Mike Zito injects the soundtrack with the blues-rock quality that has become his signature sound; nonetheless, the album does not just sound like another Zito record released under the guise of Jimmy Wayne. Instead, it has a distinct feel, and each tune, for its own merits, deserves a significant amount of praise. Kid Anderson, perhaps one of the most influential blues guitarists of recent times, also contributes his distinctive touch to the mix, and the guitars soar like there is no tomorrow accompanying profound vocals from Mike.

You can take a listen to the soundtrack here.

Five out of five – George James. 

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