Album Review – Jason James – “Cut The Chain”

Classic Country (#510.1) on the Country DDS.

For those of you that love to put on an old George Jones record and pretend like the last 50 years of country music never happened, the music of Jason James will be as welcomed as that first bit of crisp afternoon air that arrives in the early fall. The songs might be full of tragic heartbreak crooned out with the pain of 1,000 breakups. But despite the dour nature of the material, this music gives you a bit more hope in the world, and a lot more hope in country music.

Ever since releasing his debut album in 2015, Texas City-native Jason James has been on the front lines of keeping the classic sound of country music alive and vibrant in the ears of very appreciative modern listeners. Partaking to the music of Jason James, you hear the ghosts of George Jones, Ray Price, and other Golden Era performers coming through the voice, the writing, and the approach. It’s like the greatest era of country music never went away.

Sure, all these Gen Z types with their ’90s country shtick are definitely a shade better than whatever the mainstream was schlepping out a few years back. But Jason James isn’t content with just throwing it back 30 years. The fact that he’s relatively young and making music that sounds so old makes him unique in the marketplace. Except for his touring buddies The Malpass Brothers, few if anyone is doing what Jason James does, or at least this well.

In 2023, after some personal setbacks and years of struggling to make a career in country music work, Jason James announced that he was stepping back from the music business. But there’s nothing like a good ol’ fashioned divorce to find renewed passion for performing country heartbreak songs. The new album Cut The Chain is very much a country music divorce record from start to finish, with every aching season of a bitter divorce characterized in deeply personal and timelessly-written songs.

It’s takes you all of 10 seconds into the album’s opening title track for you to immediately be engrossed in whatever Jason James is doing. His voice and style are so evocative of the greatest of country music moments from the past, while being brought forth in new and original experiences, including Jason writing all ten songs of the album himself. James makes good use of his deep study into country music modes, from the smart use of words in the second song “Another Day In A Nightmare,” to the the way the final song “I Can’t Get Used To Gettin’ Over You” starts with the hook.

In fact, if there’s any criticism of this album, it’s how there’s some moments where Jason’s focus is a little too much on trying to emulate George Jones instead of letting George’s influence flow through his own expressions. And even though this album is exactly what those die hard classic country fans crave, by the end it does become a bit “one note” with the way all the songs deal with heartbreak, and take a relatively similar approach sonically.

There are a few unexpected moments though, like the comparatively upbeat “Tonight I’m Steppin’ Out.” Working with producer John Evans, they began recording the album in the Nashville studio of legendary bass player Dave Roe, and assembled an A-team of musicians for the record, including guitarist “Cousin” Kenny Vaughan, Steve Hinson on steel guitar, and bluegrass great Ronnie Bowman on backing vocals. The album took so long to come together though, Dave Roe and Ronnie Bowman have since passed on.

Heart of Texas Records put the final bit of effort out to get Cut The Chain completed and released, and now Jason James has a renewed push behind his career. Jason James might not be the next new big thing in country music. But he might be the next big thing in old country music. And that might be even better.

8.1/10

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