Album Review: Kelly Jones Inevitable Incredible

If Stereophonics’ Kelly Jones was singing the Aramaic dictionary, you’d still cock an ear, such are the vocal cords he is blessed with.

It’s a voice that soundtracked a fair whack of the ’90s and noughties, courtesy of hits like ‘Handbags And Gladrags’, ‘Mr. Writer’, ‘Have A Nice Day’ and ‘Dakota’.

So, picture the scene of Jones at the remote Ocean Sound studio in Norway, tucked away on a remote island in the North Sea, belting out the epic ‘Echowrecked’, with just a couple of studio boffins looking on. There’d be goosepimples, I reckon.

Inspired to write a piano album by a Christine Clark painting – the album cover is derived from another Clark work – Jones rolled an old eighty-eight into his study and did just that. ‘Monsters In The House’ transports the listener to the Jones household after midnight, the songwriter dwelling on the day that’s been, marking the emotional peaks and troughs of a family man.

Second single ‘Turn Bad To Good’ is sure to hijack most of the attention in terms of radio play, and perhaps rightfully so. But ‘Time’s Running Away’ – a damn fine ballad – is at least its equal. The eponymous lead single is no slouch either on what is a thoroughly enjoyable record.

Listen to Incredible Inevitable below: