The language of music transcends race, nationality, and language, serving as a powerful tool that can bridge cultures. While there’s still a long way to go to make amends, Stephen Jacques’ Native American Sweetness is a touching apology to the Native Americans who lost their lives and land to colonialism.
With his thirteenth studio album Pioneers and Fragrant Flowers, Stephen Jacques transports the listener to the American frontier era. While Stephen is no stranger to experimentation, this album is a significant step out of his comfort zone and pushes the limits of expression in the alt-rock genre.
STREAMING: (Bandcamp)
https://boxofmoxie.bandcamp.com/track/native-american-sweetness
Native American Sweetness is the most touching and emotional song on this album, and begins with praise for the beautiful Native American land, complete with golden corn fields and blue skies before “the white man slowly took the land”.
The soaring chorus decrying the industrialization and greed that followed the settlements is filled with both passion and powerful musicianship. The harmonies formed by Stephen’s gravelly tenor together with Jennifer Hall on backing vocals adds an intensity to the song that is fitting of its subject matter.
Stephen does not hold anything back with his songwriting on this track, opting to speak directly instead of sugarcoating the reality of the frontier. He lashes out at the cowards, fools, and greed that decimated the local civilization. Even though he doesn’t tell a story, the picture painted with his hard-hitting lyrics carries imagery as strong as any tale.
The lyricism of Native American Sweetness is perfectly complemented by Stephen’s composition. The track contains two beautifully melodious guitar solos that serve as an outro to the emotionally heavy chorus. Meanwhile, the verses are supported by soothing guitar accompaniments that set the vibe of the American wild west.
Spotify Album Pre-Save LINK:
https://show.co/sDrtSDJ
Native American Sweetness is the kind of track that only an artist of Stephen Jacques’ maturity could have pulled off. It is sad while it is beautiful. It is apologetic while being honest. And while its message is political in nature, it speaks to the humanity deep within us instead of partisan differences.
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