I was introduced to Jon Allen as I was riding home after a long day of work. My buddy told me he had found a great song ("Last Orders") from a guy named Jon Allen, that I had to hear. There are very few songs that have the ability to not necessarily make time stop, but rather, take you outside of it. Though it does feel like it stops, instead of it disappearing... you become quite conscious of time in general, sitting outside of yourself on a warm perch, gazing down at either what once was, what is, or what may come... lost in introspection; a daydream of sorts. As soon as the track started playing... everything dimmed around me and quieted, except for a soft glow that seemed to start to stretch... longing for something. For what exactly, I'm not completely certain. It may have been the rest, the quietness the song brought, or maybe the simplicity and carelessness the past always seems to harbor and horde. It could've been the simple longing to love and be loved in return.
Whatever the case, I really like how this guy sang with such honesty. He lets the song breathe, taking his time before singing the first words through a scotch coated voice. Though he follows a pretty standard folk progression, he throws in quite a few curveballs which'll make you smile. You can buy his new sophomore album Sweet Defeat on iTunes. The lyrics almost risk being cliché, but I think his childish honesty seem to be the saving grace. You see, as grown-ups we tend to think too seriously about things and overcomplicate life. This whole song is him simply saying 'i love you, forever' in as many ways as he can think. Remember when we were kids? Thats how we loved people. Our imaginations would exaggerate life to shadow what was in our hearts. Galaxies wouldn't be fit to house our love. Nor would our love multiplied by a billion be enough. So we'd make up numbers and even multiply them by multiple infinities. Colors seemed more rich and more vibrant back then. Summers lasted ages. Its not till we started to learn of heartache, to become guarded, to set up walls, to look both ways before crossing the street, that we started losing our wonder, started aging and becoming busy, serious, closed and "protected". Life started losing its glow. This is one reason I absolutely love music. It keeps the wonder alive. Gives life that glow.
Make sure the first time you listen to this song is at night.
This song made me stop. Made me smile... and long for that which is timeless.
I hope it does the same for you.
-Frey
Last Orders by Jon Allen
