Jackson Jackson- Tools For Survival

Tools For Survival is Jackson Jackson's second album. It was released in 2008, one year after The Fire Is On The Bird.

Although I tried not to, comparisons with its predecessor are unavoidable. And unfavourable. Where The Fire Is On The Bird had enormous variety, this album focusses on a narrower range of electronic-rock styles. Since I lack much experience with electronic music, I'm probably missing a lot of the context that this album is built upon. So unfortunately this album is at a handicap right from the outset.

Love Man is a nice trancey prog-rock effort to kick things off. I don't find it particularly memorable, but it works well as an opener. Hope For The Future is very similar.

The contrast of humble and emotive lyrics with ridiculously hektic electronica works a treat for The Devil In Me. It's a neat party trick, but unfortunately it grows old as the song drags out a bit.

All Alone has a brilliantly catchy groove for the chorus. Again the verses are contrasting, which works well and flows very nicely. The highlight for me is the lyrics, which have incredibly vivid imagery. I also really like that there is no clear narrative, just a journey through a collection of images loosely around a theme.

Looking So Hard For Love is nice, light-hearted fun. And Take Me Back works well both on its own as a humbling ballad, and to inject some variety into the album.

Somehow, the pre-chorus of Til The Heavens Fall is my favourite moment of the album. It's such a simple set of short phrases, yet it works brilliant as a lead-in, and builds perfectly with the song. Overall, the song is very similar to Eliza. In other words, it's the perfect build-up from humble beginnings to an epically grand finish. Brilliant.

Tools For Survival uses the same recipe with a bit of aimless wandering at the start. Once it gets into its stride, though, it is headbanging prog-rock brilliance.

Favourite songs

All Alone, Til The Heavens Fall, Tools For Survival

Worthwhile?

It's difficult to consider this album on its own merits without being influenced by the long shadow of its brilliant predecessor. To use a cooking analogy, it is a fine recipe that Jackson Jackson has used for both albums, and you wouldn't turn down a delicious cake just because you've eaten one of the same type before. Therefore, this is also a great album.