The bard of Melbourne, Charles Jenkins is back with his new album The Last Polaroid, and to be frank it sums inner-city Melbourne life perfectly. Opening with the title track, the group vocals in the chorus seems to have a collective Beatles-esque sound to them. The lovely harmonisation from all of the band members makes for a solid and welcoming opening track.
Charles Jenkins knows how to piece together songs and his arrangement on this set of 10 tracks is succinct and throwing a surprise around every corner. It’s catchy in the lyrical sense but also the addition of instruments that catch you out from time to time. On Everyone Loves Me, we see Jenkins in what could be his most candid song yet as he admits ‘I’m a thief/ I’m a liar/ I threw friendships on the fire.’ It’s an equation that throughout these tracks seems to work however as each song weens into the next. It’s not a concept album rather a postcard of the past few years since the release of Too Much Water in the Boat back in 2014.
For years, Jenkins has been involved with the Push and their Songwriting programs and on The Last Polaroid, his ideas for song arrangements and melodies are showcased throughout. His vocals in Kathleen sounds like they are being sung through a vintage 1950’s microphone and the song recorded in a smoke-filled speakeasy out the back of Brunswick. Tracks such as Barkly Square, No Electronic Devices and album closer Winter Ball all stand out as highlights.
Beautifully sounding and arranged to surprise the listener time and time again, this is Charles Jenkins at his very best.
