JIM ADKINS City Streets Clear Image Records

As I listen to Virginia guitarist Jim Adkins’ new album CITY STREETS, I’m pondering as to what it is about his music that makes me feel so good. The first song of Jim’s that I remember being enamored with was “Into the Storm” from his 2002 release TURNING POINT. Now, two albums later, CITY STREETS evolves and continues the outstanding quality I heard in that first listen to his music six years ago. This isn’t just a good album… it’s a great album… make that exceptional, it’s an exceptional recording! My ultimate test of any song is whether or not I would stay with it until it ends, even though I’d be delaying an activity such as getting out of the car or shutting off my iPod or Roku. There is not one track on this new album that I wouldn’t want to savor in its entirety before doing something else. Again, I have to ask why that is, and without delving too deeply into some analysis best left to a musicologist (or perhaps a psychologist) I’ll simplify it and call it an organic, simple elegance of expression. I love his melodies, the tone he brings out of his instrument, his pacing, his economy of notes, his soul, as it were, coming through his music. Jim Adkins’ CITY STREETS works beautifully for me. I can’t imagine that it wouldn’t work exactly that way for you! ~SCOTT O'BRIEN