Music Review: Robert Jon & The Wreck, ‘Heartbreaks & Last Goodbyes’
The Southern California rockers deliver and then some on their ninth studio album.
Robert Jon & The Wreck’s Heartbreaks & Last Goodbyes album artwork.
On Heartbreaks & Last Goodbyes, the ninth studio album from Southern California’s Robert Jon & The Wreck, the band offers up a modern awakening of a deeply classic American sound. This album is full of familiarity, including lead singer Robert Jon’s soulfully urgent vocals, the gospel-esque keys, and screaming guitars. I’ve heard these sounds from Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Allman Brothers Band, and other greats that cemented these sounds into what we now call Southern rock.
But Robert Jon & The Wreck are not a tribute band stuck in the past, pretending the 70s were the only good era for music. The sounds may take you back to standards like “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Ramblin’ Man,” but Heartbreaks & Last Goodbyes brings a current-day vibe to the genre, evoking hints of modern hard rock while hearkening to the past.
The opener “Sittin’ Pretty” ignites an adrenaline rush through my veins. The intro starts with those rousing keys, announcing the start of the record in a way that’ll make you stand up like you’re at a revival. An aggressive guitar riff and snare hit buildup combination follows, giving the feeling of an oncoming train that will stop for nothing.
It does stop, but only for Jon’s no-time-to-lose voice to belt “I can hear those church bells ringin’” a cappella. This start and stop between the instruments and vocals is a recurring aspect of the song, and it showcases how much power the whole group possesses.
Robert Jon & The Wreck. Photo credit: Rob Bondurant.
I can hear more of the Skynyrd influence on “Ashes In the Snow,” especially in its warm harmonies. The deep piano intro of “Old Man” adds a layer so deep it’s like looking into a black hole. Next, a slow-burning electric guitar builds to a scream as it guides listeners into a more intense place. Jon sings about a father walking out and how he made it through anyway. The lyric “From a broken home / I learned to stand” is an incredible statement about resilience.
The fun gets turned up again on “Dark Angel” with a rollicking guitar intro that raises everyone’s glass and fills the dance floor in seconds. It’s an ode to that woman no one can tame, and the way he wails sounds like the horn of a speeding midnight semi.
“Better of Me” turns up the attitude with a cocky, defiant song about someone who can’t be slowed down. “I Wanna Give It” uses country themes and some dark humor to tell a story about wanting to run away with someone and leave a troubled life behind.
The way the title track starts makes me envision smoke rising and surrounding the band as John’s vocals take center stage. When he belts the chorus, you can’t not feel the heartache he’s going through. “So pour me more liquor and forget the ice / Because I’ve been watered down too many times” captures the feeling of wanting to numb the pain no matter how much the whiskey burns going down.
The record closes on the rocker “Keep Myself Clean.” It paints a dark picture of the outlaw lifestyle: “I’m hiding out, trying to keep myself clean / All my friends are dead or in jail / Ain’t nothin’ left for me.” The tiredness and desperation in the lyrics paint a picture of a fugitive holed up in a run-down motel room just trying to keep his shit together for one more day. A borderline-unhinged guitar solo towards the end seems to reflect him crying out as his mental state deteriorates.
Whether it’s those from-the-gut soulful vocals or the intensity of the rest of the band, you cannot ignore this group once you press play. They’re a band for right now, but like their influences they’ll sound right at home on a turntable. If you’re hungry for something real, your psyche will eagerly absorb Heartbreaks & Last Goodbyes.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andy Ellis.
Andy Ellis has been spotlighting indie music for over 10 years and is always looking for that next great band. When he’s not listening to music he’s reading, writing, and listening to podcasts about it. He also hosts the Melodic Noise Insider podcast covering Minnesota’s expansive music scene.
