Andrew’s Judgmental Album Reviews: Jelly Roll – Whitsitt Chapel (2023)

Long time no see everyone! There was an accident that left me in the hospital for a while, but now I have access to a computer and some alone time; its time to try and get back on the horse! Jelly Roll is someone who I stumbled on right around quarantine time. His particular brand of bluesy southern crooning, mixed in with emotion driven raps and usually relatable topics made me an instant fan. Now I’ve gathered from the one single I heard, its more of a Country Album instead of bluesy southern fried Rap.

He’s pretty much nailed everything I’ve heard him do, so lets see how a full fledged country album lands on the ears!

• Artist: Jelly Roll
• Album: Whitsitt Chapel (2023)
• Label: BBR Music Group
• Total Track Time: 43:32

Early topics are definitely a space where Jelly plays well. He’s a master at conveying pain, struggle, and reaching through the airwaves to relate to the listener. Even if the religious aspects (it’s Country music, come on now, you expected it), don’t correlate, his imagery of it just being a place of solace and assistance bleed through in a wider reach of metaphor. This also plays on familiar country tropes with booze, backroads and Jesus, but again, the song structure is beautiful and the lyrics transcend the cliches to form this immaculate rainbow of depression with the pot of gold just visible enough to not succumb to the pain in the song.

“I thought my demons would find me, with blue lights behind me”, is a great line from Kill A Man. The way it flows with the little Country bent surfer melody, is a sound I didn’t know I needed to hear. Jelly is a great ballad singer, and this album has really just been a fantastic experience. I know some people have criticized Jelly with always making music around struggle, pain and demons; but the way he approaches every song is unique. Even if you know the song will unlock a memory or demon you’ve tried to quash down, its poetic and nearly cathartic with how he proves his relatability with every song. Also it can’t be understated, even though this is very much so, a Country album, there’s still elements of the bluesy Hip-Hop he came to some fame with.

1. Hold on Me – 3:36

Starts with an almost Garth Brooks style of twang and guitar bend. The lyrics are poignant but not exactly hard to decipher. A simple song about realizing the person you’re with is good for you, what you need, who you’re holding; but addiction has the hold on you. Which even if your particular addiction you can’t break free from isn’t alcohol, or may be something more intangible; many of us have something holding us back. This is somber and self aware, which there’s no happy ending to this song; but acknowledgment is always the first step.

2. Behind Bars (feat Brantley Gilbert & Struggle Jennings) – 2:57

Now this is one of those beautiful metaphors, because when you hear the line “most my friends are behind bars” you start buying into this being a jail song. But most his friends are named Jose, Jim and Jack…you know, liquor brands, so most of his friends are behind bars. “They’re servin’ time so I can get long gone, Most my friends are behind bars, I’ll break ’em out and pour ’em up real strong”. While its another song about alcohol and demons, the way its arranged resonates in a way that I appreciate and find clever.

3. The Lost – 3:19

Feels almost like a call to his fans and the people that relate to his music. The lost, the broken, the damned are his kind of people. “I’ve been down and out, I’m better with the lost than the found, My solid ground, Is better with the lost than the found”. The song is structured more like a rallying cry, less of a bluesy croon and really keeps a solid tempo to convey the feeling of enjoying his people and coming together to support one another.

Again, if there’s a critique, it really is just that you have to be in the mood to feel, reflect and have emotions churn for 40+ minutes to listen to the whole thing. While the tempos of some songs are quicker and there’s musical breadth, lyrically, its a dark album. So if you want sunshine and something to just tap your foot to; prolly best to look elsewhere. Or you know, if you’re someone who’s life is pretty easy, then this whole album might just sound like whining.

But if you want to just experience what it feels like to be in one of the most compelling group help sessions ever; grab a beer, a chair and give this a spin.

Final Judgment: 9.25/10