If Kings of Leon and Paulo Nutini had a lovechild, he might sound something like Jack Runaway. Drinking Alone is the Western Australian act’s debut EP, but it’s delivered with all the confidence of seasoned pros.
At just five tracks, the band makes sure there are no fillers here. We already got a taste of Jack Runaway with the singles “Ready to Know You” and “Never Know,” and they’ve wasted no time releasing another single, “Dijonnaise” in tandem with this EP. Any one of the songs on Drinking Alone could be a single though. Each one has a cool, sexy self-assuredness about it, a real rockstar vibe that simmers just below the surface.
I don’t think it’s any coincidence “Ready to Know You” is the EP’s opener. It’s the song that made me fall for Jack Runaway. Hearing it again reminds me just how much I dig the band and primes me for what will come next. “Moonblocks” is such a natural second track, with the easy groove of its verses and the anthemic chorus. There’s a freedom to it that makes me want to pack up my car and drive somewhere, anywhere. “Never Know” and “Dijonnaise” are straight-up rock tracks, with fuzzy guitars and unbridled choruses. The title track has a real pathos about it, so it’s a curious choice for a closer. However, Jack Runaway aren’t an act that likes to play by the rules. Perhaps ending on a downer was a strategic decision though, as it compels the listener to hit play once again.
Like the best EPs, Drinking Alone is a collection of songs that leaves us wanting more. It’s out now. See Jack Runaway play Clancy’s Fish Pub in Fremantle on August 31.
Image used with permission from Firestarter Music