Crazy If You Let It

Thomm Jutz

2017 - Mountain Fever Records.  Thomm Jutz is an exceptional songwriter who can create some of the most unique songs filled with short stories.  This is a collection of ten of Thomm’s creations.  This collection includes “Run With The Horses” which Thomm wrote one day after the passing of Ralph Stanley.  This song has eventually become an unofficial tribute to Mr. Stanley.  Another song to mention from this album is “The Coast of Carolina.”  Performed in a beautiful Bluegrass melody, Thomm captures the ups and downs of a storm hitting the coast of Carolina.  Jutz shows his versatility as a songwriter in all of the songs on this album, nonetheless two stand out the most with “Crazy If You Let It” and “Sometimes What Glitters Is Gold.”  The album opens with “Crazy If You Let It,” performed in a soft, subtle ballad.  But it’s “Sometimes What Glitters Is Gold” is exceptional as one can hear a taste of the roaring ‘20’s within the melody.  The downfall in this album is Thomm’s song “The Road To Galway.”  Jutz claims that he learned this tune on his first trip to Ireland at the age of 19.  As you listen to this song, you can tell that it is about Ireland; however the melody lacks the Irish cadence that is so well known.  Personally, I would love to hear Thomm revisit this song to ‘Irish’ up the melody.  Other songs include “Crossing Over Black Mountain,” “White Water Train,” and “Lily of The Day.” There are four songs that I recommend that you seek.  The first of these four songs is “Atlanta (Please Don’t Let Me Down);” this song gives the listener an accurate account of the life of a musician.  If you like songs about trains, Thomm gives us a delightful song that allows us to reminisce about trains with “Old Railroads.”  The album closes with “It Was You,” a beautiful heartfelt ballad about love.  However, the song that really stands out is “Confederate Jasmine.”  In this song, that will be added to our list of Songs For Soldiers, Jutz captures the story of a woman who aided the soldiers in the Civil War.  It is unknown if the story contained within the song is true or not, nonetheless it is a well written and elegant song.  This album gives us a sense of what kind of songwriter and singer Thomm Jutz is.  At certain points it does lack the maturity that comes with experience, however he makes up for that with his authenticity.  It is with experience and maturity that in years to come, Thomm will become a highly sought after master craftsman of songwriting.  $$$-$$$$

(This review was printed in the November / December 2017 issue of Strictly Country Magazine.)

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