Drake Jensen Releases “Talk Me Down”

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Drake Jensen’s “Talk Me Down” hit me with a wallop on my first listen. Despite not being an original example of Jensen’s songwriting powers, the Nova Scotia born country singer connects with the near-suicidal desperation of the song’s lyrics like a man with little left to lose and his impassioned bellow, particularly during the song’s chorus, is a career highlight in a professional life first taking flight with his 2011 debut. His country roots, however, never preclude him from moving outside that wheelhouse and incorporating other influences into his artistic vision – “Talk Me Down” has hard hitting rock passion throughout and a fluent guitar solo near the song’s end accentuates those credentials while still contributing a satisfying bite to an already high stakes performance.

The single comes from his latest studio album entitled Sideshow and comes with an accompanying music video. The black and white simplicity of the video features many hallmarks of the genre, including fast cuts between various images, and underlines the loneliness and pain heard in the track’s lyrics without ever coming off ham-fisted and obvious. Jensen’s clear intention with both the video and song aims towards a track depicting a painful yet universal experience in adult lives in a manner appealing to a wide range of listeners. He is, by any measure, successful.

The sole section I found wanting is the song’s bridge; I longed for a more impactful moment here, but it accomplishes what a bridge should – providing an effective transition into the song’s final lap. The aforementioned chorus is where everything comes together with peak power – Jensen’s mammoth pipes belt out the dire scenario of a broken hearted man separated from his love with impassioned anguish and longing. There is a sense of predictability with this song, but it’s predictable in the best possible way – I delighted in hearing how well Jensen and the band alike execute customary shifts and turns in the performance and it brims with dynamics. The songwriting is, if nothing else, rather canny. It implies suicide, but the ledge mentioned in the chorus and the phrase “talk me down” possesses many potential metaphorical meanings. The gist, however, is clear. Jensen is on the edge of deep despair and desperate to not tumble, head over heels, into the dark.

He’s ably supported by some top notch musicians who are focused on serving the song and, despite the aforementioned guitar solo, never seek out the spotlight. The focus throughout is on the songwriting and Jensen’s voice. It’s a wise move. “Take Me Down” embodies what modern country, at its best, is capable of while still positioning itself as an individualistic hybrid utilizing the best of country and rock structures. I haven’t heard anything else from Jensen’s new album Sideshow, but if “Talk Me Down” is any barometer of the album’s quality, it is this talented musical artist’s finest moment yet and deserves the widest possible audience. It burns with emotion and skill from beginning to end and lacks even the slightest hint of fat or needless nonsense.

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/drakejensen?lang=en

by Bethany Page