Jeff Caylor Okay Indie Pop 06-26-2007

SCORE 86%

There are a few artists out there doing well-crafted understated folk-pop, but not all of them can boast the eclectic intelligence of Okay, the oddly titled but well-rounded debut from Colorado indie artist Jeff Caylor. He’s got an ear for distinctive instrumentation and the power of the well-turned phrase, as well as an intelligent subtlety that greatly enhances the eleven tracks of Okay.

The percolating organic rhythms of opener “Almost Flew” grab your attention immediately, especially effective as support for his softly graveled vocals. Caylor’s attention to diverse rhythms has much to do with the beauty and warm ambience of the debut. It’s the clever folksy lyrics that lure you into the bouncy “The Ballad of Jon Turner,” a wry commentary on the “currency of the moment.” Caylor weaves his insightful spirituality through his songs seamlessly and appealingly.

One of my favorite tracks is the rhythm-driven, jazz-flaired “Pain Is A Megaphone,” its electric nuances adding heat to his edgy vocals. That’s Caylor behind the sparkling keys, and the lyrics are equally crisp.  Producer Gavin Harrison covers all the instruments on the string-heavy “Perspective,” a quiet pop ballad that honestly addresses some of the down times of the faith walk. My one complaint regarding Okay is its heavy dose of ballads. The second half of the album especially contains a prodigious stretch of slow tempo tracks, and I felt the energy lag, despite their sensitive vulnerability and expressive vocals.

I enjoyed the punchy percussion and raspy vocals of “Moving Backwards,” a rich rail against life’s occasional futility. Another standout is the poignant “Breakable on the Inside,” a perceptive portrayal of the fragility of our facades. Beautifully arranged, Caylor’s hushed vocals ride a rich bed of sparkling keys and Leora Gardner’s tender violin solo. Its evocative lyrics are also worthy of mention: “My heart is held together by all this skin/ What used to feel like leather is wearing thin/ Cause I know how it feels to be breakable on the inside When the outside looks so right.”

Okay closes strongly with quiet acoustic ballad, “I Didn’t Think I’d See You Here Today,” continuing Caylor’s unique vein of understated elegance. It’s an exceptional debut; I can’t wait to see what comes next from this versatile indie artist.