music review
In 1975, I borrowed my older brother’s “Blood on the Tracks” album by a rejuvenated Bob Dylan. I was immediately captivated by Dylan’s introspective songwriting filled with brutally honest arrangements like “Tangled Up in Blue” and “If You See Her, Say Hello.” They left Dylan’s heart and soul exposed for all to see. It’s with careful consideration that I mention Jordan Umbach in the same paragraph as Dylan. With “Mercy: Songs for Western Pennsylvania,” the young and talented singer-songwriter from Washington delivers refreshingly authentic songwriting that evokes a genuine passion about the area Umbach calls home.
Dylan’s influence can immediately be heard on the opening track, “Mercy.” In it, Umbach outlines the day-to-day struggles of growing up in a small town and coming to grips with a future that may never be as bright as once imagined. “Bill’s Song” follows with a folksy sentiment highlighted by the seasoned accordion playing of Henry Doktorski. Perhaps the best example of Dylan’s style is witnessed on “Ballad of John F. Ware.” Umbach channels vintage Dylan with a billowy acoustic guitar groove accompanied by stirring harmonica. Also included on the album is an acoustic version of “Silhouette of Steel” from Umbach’s last release. The haunting anthem of a town stripped of its identity and prosperity by greedy company executives leaving for cheaper pastures is a heartbreaking assessment of many local communities struggling to regain past glory days. While “Mercy: Songs for Western Pennsylvania” may not be the next “Blood on the Tracks,” it does represent the promise of a young local artist that has the passion and insight to influence a new generation of singer-songwriters. Umbach may be just a boy from a steel town, but his music speaks to everyone.
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