LA-based singer-songwriter Joe Wilkinson is set to rock our world yet again with his latest LP “Fences.” As you load up Fences and the tracks go by, it almost feels as though Wilkinson is reaching back through decades of Americana. He creates a work of art that feels both familiar and warm, but is not quite like anything you’ve heard before.
Joe starts off strong with Travelin’ On, a light and upbeat rock anthem about the joy of travelling. This track evolves memories of driving down a deserted highway with the sun in your eyes and wind in your ears. By the time you get to that sweet guitar solo you know exactly who you’re with: a guy who knows how to rock.
01. Travelin’ On
02. Lost Until I’m Found
03. One Last Time
04. Fences
05. Accepting
06. Sometimes We Need Love
07. Understood
08. Most of the Time
09. It’s Too Late
10. Last Breath of Life
Produced by Steve Watson
Tracked at Watson House Studios
Joe Wilkinson – vocals and guitar
Leland Sklar – bass
John Ginty – keyboards
Fredo Ortiz – drums
Buck Reid – pedal steel guitar
Steve Watson – strings
But hold your high horses, because Travelin’ On is immediately followed by the emotional gut punch that is Lost Until I’m Found. With its synth interludes, strong bass, and subdued vocals, this track is reminiscent of 90s grunge acts like Pearl Jam. The ethereal lyrics and instrumentation prove that Joe has no intention of limiting himself to one genre.
The title track, “Fences,” is yet another emotional single that now ventures into soft country rock. Wilkinson’s lyricism balances separation and connection so deftly that it never tips into sentimentality. The piano is a tasteful addition to Fences, and contrasts delightfully with the soaring chorus, creating a song that feels truly timeless.
Later on in the album, “Most of the time” leans heavily into the country-blues sound with a stripped-down acoustic instrumentation relying primarily on drums, piano and guitar. This track is a sentimental ode to the joy and joy that travel brings.
The production work on this album shapes Fences into a space where every instrument and voice has its own air. Nothing feels crowded, and everything counts. His soulful guitar arrangements only underline the album’s emotional sincerity without ever overpowering it.
If you were looking for an album that ends on a high note, I have bad news for you. Last Breath of Life is by no means as depressing a track as its name suggests. It is a hopeful and beautiful ballad that closes Fences with a peaceful last breath, leaving you at ease, but craving for more.
This isn’t an album that aims to break molds—Fences is a quiet, steadfast reminder that simplicity, when skillfully done, becomes transcendent. Joe Wilkinson has spent years on the road and here, he emerges fully himself: a storyteller grounded in daily truths; a songwriter capable of weaving melancholy and brightness into something enduring.
ONLINE:
https://www.joewilkinsonmusic.net/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5jpsEQoBgXvQ0kUlGL34cM