Jeremy Hilliard – Trouble for Another Day (Album Review)

Folk-rock singer-songwriter Jeremy Hilliard’s official debut solo release (on major streaming platforms), Trouble for Another Day is an eclectic capsule welcoming listeners into an intimate setting of slick songwriting and tight instrumental performance.

Trouble For Another Day is billed as a “home demo”. It’s a collection of leftovers from Jeremy Hilliard’s main project PEAK, his 8th to be precise, and yet it sounds anything but throwaway. Immediately, the tightness, confidence, and slick production are evident on the opening track ‘And We Said Goodbye to Ourselves’. Despite being entirely recorded, mixed, and mastered by the artist on a laptop, the album is highly polished; avoiding lo-fi as both a stylistic choice and as an excuse. The instruments sound very close and panned in a way that you feel you’re in the room with the musicians.

Jeremy’s vocals are weary and knowing, meandering through the instrumentation while being coddled in soft harmonies. Stylistically, songs such as the opener and ‘Body of a Man’ fall into the realm of The Band and late-period Beatles with a layer of Wurlitzer and bluesy guitar lead firmly planting it into a time and period of yesteryear, albeit with pristine, modern production.

However, Jeremy is not afraid to forgo this in songs like ‘Ghost of Greyling Street’ where the band ventures into atmospheric, high-tempo numbers with dancing drums and blossoming, washed-out guitar work. Compelling lyrics add to the mystery, singing from the perspective of a ghost inhabiting a house that was close to a drunk driving incident. He sings

“I’ve been the sole occupant since ‘06

But they marked it abandoned because I don’t exist”

It’s a welcome change from the other brand of lyrics that Jeremy primarily pens on this album, which tap into the typical folky cornerstones of alcoholism and domestic issues. Songs like ‘Mr. Wish-I-Could-Do-It-All-over-Again’ walks a line between parody and sincerity that is hard to take seriously or enjoy in jest with lines like

“I lost my ex to a sergeant in the U.S Marine Corps

And my business and house to tequila and divorce”

I was left with a desire for more personality in these kinds of songs. With such a strong voice and backing band Jeremy could elevate the songs with less clichés.

And yet, he surprises the listener again as ‘Lay Down Like Lovers’ brings a smooth, cool funk verging on the fringes of jazz harmony ever so slightly with an evident Steely Dan influence. It’s a sublime composition and easily a standout in the album. Perhaps that’s the crutch of such eclecticism; for every high point of energy and great songwriting, there is an equally mundane aspect that could be more with less commitment to genre expectations. Take the world within the ‘Ghost of Greyling Street’ for example. The compelling and unusual lyrics paired with an accompaniment of the great musicianship on show create a solid song. If only others like ‘Too Much of Everything’, could use a creative and quirky premise rather than a tired cautionary tale of taking too many drugs that stands incongruous with the tone of the album’s music.

By Jeremy’s admission, it is a compilation of home demos. While there is nothing inconsistent about the quality of music, it would benefit giving the lyrics just as much care.

Below is a rating for each song on a scale of 1-10:

And We Said Goodbye to Ourselves– 6

Body of A Man – 4

American Blue – 5

Ghost of Greyling Street – 8

Swallowed by the Jungle – 3

Mr. Wish-I-Could-Do-It-All-over-Again – 2

Beautiful Reason – 6

What Kind of Person Are You Anyway– 4

Doin’ the Heavy Liftin’ – 2

Lay Down Like Lovers – 9

Too Much of Everything – 4

I Don’t Mind the Rain – 7

Arc of Night – 7

Rating/Good – Trouble for Another Day is a strong set of songs that aren’t afraid to swerve in unexpected sonic directions. However, the themes and lyrical content are less willing to stray out with expectations. That being said, Jeremy and the backing band provide excellent tight performances of well-crafted, if predictable, folk-rock tunes.

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[We rank albums on a scale of Poor, Mediocre, Good, Excellent, and Outstanding]