Fortunately for newcomer Jeff Allen, he’s not only gifted with a strong voice, but he also can write strong material and play some spirited guitar. Working with guitarist/producer Kenny Greenberg and award-winning songwriter Odie Blackmon on his debut EP, Jeff Allen immediately showcases a singer/songwriter worth paying attention to. “The Wrong Ones” (listen here) showcases a country rocker with flair while the ballad “Burnin’” showcases his talent with a powerful lyric of regret and pain.
“Teenage Paradise” is a strong mid-tempo tune about blooming young love while “Elvis Loves A Cadillac” is a downright bluesy slice of country rock that smolders with flair in all of the right places and features noted Nashville bluesy vocalist Ashley Cleveland. “A Little Less Lonely” (listen here) is the lead single from the album and it’s currently doing well at regional radio and after just one listen, it’s easy to see why the tune would, with a tasty steel-guitar laced melody and a lyric of finding someone to help make the world ‘a little less lonely tonight.’ It’s a lyrically poetic song that is clearly as strong as (if not stronger than) anything on mainstream country radio.
The other track on the record, the scorching and sensual “Nobody’s Watching” is a tune that is downright rockin’ in both melody and attitude. It works seamlessly with every other song presented here and perhaps the only really ‘bad’ thing to say about Jeff Allen EP Is that the album doesn’t have 4-6 more songs to enjoy. Jeff Allen is a talented singer/songwriter with a voice that is familiar yet completely his own. Each of these songs guarantee to me that Jeff Allen is one talented live performer as he’s able to bring the energy of a live show across in these six songs, something that brings us back to the beginning of this review. If you’re gonna crack this industry, you need great talent AND great songs to do it (with a little luck for good measure). It’s clear that Jeff Allen has the talent and the songs to be a great success, which is what Jeff Allen EP clearly is.
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