Proudly hailing from Braunton in Devon Jim Jones has been ploughing a particular furrow for the last twenty years or so and despite widespread acclaim (Radio 2 airplay and 4* reviews in Q and Mojo magazines) fame and fortune has, not unlike his early mentor and long term touring and recording buddy Pete Bruntnell, avoided him in its quicksilver way. At least that has been the case up to now but…
Jim’s first album “Monochrome” came out in 2005 under the moniker Small Town Mentality and was more a band effort than recent releases. Featuring Jim and PB on guitar and Allan Kendall on bass and production duties as well as Ken Kerslake on drums and co-song writing. The songs were strong and some even survive in the live set today. Touring beckoned and even included a bottom-of-the-bill slot for AUK and their Electric Dustbowl fundraiser in Leicester in 2008. A riotous gig that somehow finished with Jim playing drums for PB – not his strongest musical talent!
“Daylight and Stars” saw the light of day in 2009 (really? Ed), this time produced by PB and the first album to feature regular musical foil and friend Dave Little. Recorded over a two-year period (usually on a Thursday night) in PB’s basement studio it was released under the name Jim Jones but brought into the STJ fold on re-release in 2016. ‘Wintersong’ a co-write with Bruntnell found Jim finding his individual template with its aching melancholy highlighting his cracked vocals and knack for a simple affecting melody. The strength of collection signalling a real talent had emerged. By 2012 “Freight Ships” was hoving into view (really stop it now! Ed) and Jim was appearing on Dermot O’Leary’s Radio 2’s Saturday sessions where he was described as ‘annoyingly good’ by his host and Q magazine gave the Texas-recorded work 4*. Self-released and mainly featuring Jim and Dave, greatness beckoned. There was touring with the likes of Ray Davies, Ethan Johns, Damien Jurado and Sara Watkins and then it appeared in the form of 2015’s “Sky down to the Ground”, this time back under the wing of PB, Jim unveiled a magnum opus and released it on His and PB’s own record label – Domestico. 4* and 5* reviews appeared in Q, Mojo and Maverick as well as a host of online praise.
There followed a period of relative quiet, still punctuated by emotional and uplifting gigs but little in the way of recorded material. The occasional signal got through. A 2017 Children in Need song sung by son Reuben, a couple of EPs in 2020 and then latterly a flurry of activity producing work of the highest quality. Late 2022 saw the release of ‘No Apologies’ a joint single with Stevie Ray Latham and then in early 2024 came “Kintsugi” a hugely significant release and another step up in terms of quality and songwriting. Produced by Mike Reed its myriad themes and colours come with a sense of maturity and musicianship. Still splashed with melancholic colours there are depths of lyricism and musicality that can be explored for weeks.
More people should know about Jim. Currently you can buy his entire back catalogue on Bandcamp for £20! You will, of course, not do this. You will pay at least double and still have a massive bargain in your hand. And then there’s the live performances. Almost communions as Jim holds the audience in the palm of his hand and tells jokes and stories, letting them into his world while spinning songs of both gossamer and heft, usually with the behatted Dave Little at his side. He’s supporting Jesca Hoop on Nov 1st in Brighton next. Go see, you’ll be blown away.
