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Jeremy Jay’s downcast disposition and lo-fi designs combine to make A Place Where We Could Go seem something of a dreary destination. “Nite Nite” offers an uncertain send-off, its forlorn vocal and solitary strum providing a stilted backdrop for his wistful reflection. With Jay accompanying himself on piano and guitar, drummer Chris Sutton does what he can to manage the tempo, but the sparse monochromatic arrangements find the songs droning on and on to the point where it’s a challenge trying to distinguish one track from another. Jay ‘s unfortunate penchant for expressing his thoughts in a steady stream of consciousness doesn’t help matters either, and he sometimes appears so self-absorbed that his lyrics turn into fragmentary ramblings. The album’s final two entries – “Hold Me in Your Arms Tonite” and “Someone Cares” – aim to provide some respite by picking up the pace and imbuing some optimism, but by then it’s too late. The place Jay ‘s invited us to go has long since lost its appeal. (K Records)
