Jon-Olov Woxlin – Junk Trunk (Album)

This is the original sound of Americana storytelling. The new album of Jon-Olov Woxlin presents stories in a really relaxed and wise original country genre, with one major twist you’d never find out if nobody would tell you: this is Americana with a Nordic twist, originating from Bergsjö, Hälsingland, Sweden.

Hearing the album for the first time, I admit I was really surprised about how Woxlin is able to create an atmosphere that feels hot, dry, and busy like it came straight from the southern Appalachian Mountains. And not for a second the sound feels staged or like an act. The multitalented musician transmits nothing less than his musical soul. Starting with “Exit Sign Explicit”, the album opens the first chapter of skilled storytelling. Soaked with steel guitar melodies and a unique lyrical story, the track contains a slight groove that indicates you’re in for a treat. Once “Already There” starts, you get proof of Woxlin’s ability to transmit emotion and passion. With a slight melancholic undertone, the track injects some heavy-hearted texture with signature-styled honesty.

Speaking of honesty, you might notice that not every single note of every single track hits its timing. This isn’t a coincidence. Taken from the description of the artist, he doesn’t like to record re-takes of songs because it subtracts the live feel from the tunes. It’s about time someone said this out loud. With every other tune being recorded a hundred times to get the best shiny appearance, people tend to forget that this takes away most of the honest live appeal of the tune. Luckily, Woxlin knows about the natural feeling of single takes, so one of the things that make the album stand out throughout all tracks is this edgy live vibe that gives the tunes additional texture and flavor.

“Esoteric Woman of the Night” creates something like a campfire atmosphere, as the story is being told with a signature vocal performance. Due to the vibrato used, the tune gets an almost majestic appeal, where you can almost see the fireflies taking off into the night if you close your eyes. “Our Journey’s Just Begun” opens up another chapter, yet for me it’s connected to “Esoteric Woman”, at least regarding feeling and storytelling. There’s always this emotional but not sobbing undertone present, it’s the love vibe transmitted with a unique texture.

“For Another Day” is one of my favorite tracks of the album, since it has the ability to build a wholesome atmosphere just with the backing music. For some reason, the lyrics told by the serious vocals connect with me more than expected, the tune originates from the heart and it just shows. Like I said on numerous occasions, you cannot fake honesty in music. “Junk Trunk Blues” switches moods by changing the atmosphere to a playful and lightweight scenery. This track also showcases the groove-soaked guitar-picking abilities of the artist, as he tells his story in this ever-moving style. “Your New World is Here” has an interesting approach for me. For some reason, this tune blends country with sea shanty for me. Although this probably wasn’t the intention of the artist at all, for me the track combines both country and seaside vibe. You gotta love the minimal approach as well, there’s just the necessary amount of elements to make the track effective.

“Mother of Fate” transmits emotion through the heavy-hearted string concept along a very slow and relaxed vocal set. I really like the fact that the singer/songwriter Woxlin is able the seamlessly change the emotional output of his songs by tweaking just a tiny bit of his voice, and this track is a perfect example of this statement. And if you still doubt that this is true, “The Blaze of Thunder” will prove my thought is right. This time, the story has a whole different mood set, feeling lighter and more positive overall, with the bass and the versatile guitar textures supporting the vocals to shine like a diamond in the afternoon sun.

In general, I really love the way that any other track of the album builds its own scenery. Sometimes it’s by vocal texture, sometimes it’s the backing instruments, but every track takes place in its own universe. In the case of “Wrap up My Heart”, the violin creates the necessary amount of soul to give the tune credibility and, once again, the honesty needed for the track to feel genuine. Also, the tune “Venlafaxine #305 & 403” is an interesting concept. To be honest, I had to google the name to find out about the antidepressant the song is about. Of course, the lyrics give away most of what’s needed, but you just gotta love the desperate undertone and the unusual appearance of the song. This track would be my second pick if I had to name favorites. And it’s just because of the unique quirky way in which the tune is presented. The album ends with “Millenial Whoop”, an energetic and friendly closing chapter of the album that combines all of the elements that Woxlin’s music is all about. It’s a walkthrough of storytelling, melodic progression, and those little sparkling extras.

All in all, this album is an extraordinary one for me on many different levels. Obviously, it’s because of the fact that Jon-Olov Woxlin is a very skilled artist. Playing guitar (and I mean REALLY playing, not only strumming a few chords), singing a wider range of not only notes but also emotions (which is a greater weighted factor when it comes to music in my opinion), and transmitting it regardless of time and space by delivering with honesty. But less obvious, the tunes on the album contain something else that might not meet the ear at first. It’s a certain serious undertone, along the way this undertone is actually delivered. Only through the many different sceneries, the atmospheres, and the (let’s call them) pivotal emotional rollercoaster hotspots, the album gets a well-rounded glow, a sophisticated package, and an ultra-honest texture that is created to stay not only as a singalong routine but an album to remember.