More about: Kelly Jones

The most enchanting thing about Stereophonics frontman Kelly Jones’ new live-acoustic solo album Don’t Let The Devil Take Another Day - aside from the sheer impressiveness of how tight knit the musicians sound- is the inspired down-tempo arrangements for the band's classic hits.

This refreshing spin on such staples ‘Mr. Writer’ and ‘Local Boy In The Photograph’, usually upbeat and reliant on distorted riffs, adds a newly found gravitas, allowing the listener to truly knuckle down on the masterful observational narratives Jones conjures up. With his trademark rasp vocal delivery (showing, gladly, no signs of wear) and quick-witted, often self deprecating humour throughout, this collection of stripped back performances (recorded during the solo-tour of the same name) truly affirms Jones as one of the greatest songsmiths of the past two decades. 

Opening with ‘Hurry Up and Wait’, taken from sophomore album ‘Performance and Cocktails’, we are welcomed in with the story of the weekly "Sunday night bath night" in the Jones family household. These regular look-ins to life growing up in Wales offer a whole new perspective to already established chart toppers like ‘Maybe Tomorrow’ and the always remarkable setlist finale ‘Dakota’. More recent tracks ‘This Life Ain’t Easy’ and ‘Before Anyone Knew Our Name’, the latter a touching tribute to the late Stuart Cable (the original Stereophonics percussionist), show off a more reflective and self-aware nature allowing themes of mortality and family to be exercised and explored in a way that their new minimalist arrangement of acoustic guitar and sentimental string accompaniment seem wholly fitting. 

It’s hard to fault in its authenticity. Jones steamrolls gleefully through a jam packed combination of Stereophonics crowd pleasers old and new, with the addition of two solo tracks taken from his highly underrated debut album Only the Names Have Been Changed. That said, the latter half of the album loses a little of it’s personal touch and warmth. The songs warrant little to no introduction and quite often Jones breezes from one track to the next without so much as ‘this next song is called’. One can only expect that those in attendance are already so familiar with the tunes that they do not require such formalities. 

The considerable quantity of hits and deep-cut fan favourites Stereophonics have cooked up in a two-decade-plus career is quite remarkable. Kelly Jones is masterful in his real world storytelling and no matter how many times you may hear it, you are never quite prepared for the beautifully written twist of ‘I Stopped To Fill My Car Up’. Don’t Let The Devil Take Another Day confirms that Kelly Jones really does sound as good as he does in the studio. 

Don't Let The Devil Take Another Day arrives 4 December via Parlophone. An accompanying documentary of the same name is coming to UK cinemas from 11 December, followed by a global online premiere on 18th december via Trafalgar Releasing.

More about: Kelly Jones