Album Review: Jude by Julian Lennon

Jude is the latest musical effort by Julian Lennon. It is his first musical album released in over a decade. 

There was a point, admittedly, when I liked Julian Lennon mostly because he was the son of legendary musician John Lennon. But he is a talented musician in his own right. I liked his music back in the eighties, when he was in the pop music scene, and had some really decent songs. But this is different. He is older now. It is a different time. 

Yes, this is a different Julian Lennon than we have seen before. But I suspect that it is a version of him that is a bit wiser, and more filled with gratitude. He has embraced that he is indeed Jude, that his links to the Beatles are real, and likely what he is, and will remain, most famous for. And this album feels like an acceptance of that, a coming to terms with it, and with the bittersweet nature of his past.

It feels like the songs on this album reflect that, as well. The album feels like it gets better and better as it goes along, and that is a good thing. 

So without further ado, let me go ahead and go through the album, song by song. Any input from anyone wishing to discuss the album, or the merits of the album, of Julian Lennon, or my own review of it is very welcome. I would appreciate the feedback.

Tracks:

Save Me - The first track starts off soft and slow, then picks up the pace. An enjoyable track, with the somewhat mystifying lyrics "You're the only one I know, who lets the darkness come and go inside." An almost haunting track, and it is a solid way for him to begin this album. 

Freedom - A mystical kind of a track, mostly with soft undertones, both in terms of instrumentation and singing by Lennon. The lyrics match the mood, as well.

Every Little Moment - Lennon's singing sounds much bolder in this song than it did in the first two tracks, right from the get go. The lyrics are also quite bold, while still remaining abstract. One of the best songs on this album. 

Not One Night - This is the track that reminds me a bit - quite a bit, actually - of Chris Cornell's solo, acoustic stuff. Not the voice, because Lennon and Cornell have very different voices and singing styles. But the guitar works, and even the lyrics, feel reminiscent of Cornell here, at least to me. But that is not a criticism by any stretch. A solid song.

Love Don't Let Me Down - An enjoyable track. The lyrics are a bit repetitive in this one, but it does not really detract much from it. I like the feel of this song, both musically and lyrically. 

Round and Round Again - Somehow, Lennon's singing style in this particular song reminded me of his famous father's singing more than on any of the tracks on this album. That is particularly true of the earliest part of this song. A very reflective, thought-provoking song in terms of both feel and lyrics.

Love Never Dies - This song has a bit of a haunting sound. Believe it or not, it played in my head repeatedly for several days after one of the last listens that I gave the album. The lyrics "All you believe is what defines you" really stood out.  A solid track, overall. 

Breathe - The first of the four straight tracks that I most enjoyed on the album, and clinched the deal, at least for me. The lyrics here are abstract, but it sure feels like he is singing about the sorry state of this world currently, and a longing to try and escape from it enough to find oneself. A very enjoyable track, one of the best on the album. Here is part of the chorus, which should serve as an example of why I enjoyed this one, not just musically, but also lyrically.

The roads ahead, are paved with gold 

I can't believe, the lies they've told 

There's no more vision, to behold 

We've lost it all, we've all been sold 

The trust is gone, the love is lost 

The truth's alive, but only just 

We pray for peace, if needs we must 

If needs we must, deliver us...

Lucky Ones - A soft start reminiscent almost of ringing bells morphs into an acoustic guitar style in the beginning. Then the song picks up. Again, the lyrics seem deliberately vague, and they feel like they address the world right now, as it is, like the previous song. But it feels more hopeful and upbeat, both musically and lyrically. A solid track, one that I enjoy very much. 

Stay - This song has an almost jazzy feel, albeit a rather gloomy feel to begin with, as well. There is a point where it gets a bit more experimental, and almost feels a bit reminiscent of the Beatles and their experiments with all sorts of different noises on a few of their tracks. The song gets less jazzy, and feels a whole lot more modern in sound and feel as it goes along. 

Gaia (feat. Paul Buchanan & Elissa Lauper) - This one, much like the previous track, has a bit of an older feel to it, with Elissa Lauper singing in French. Admittedly, Julian Lennon's singing sounds a little less sure to me in this song than in some of the other tracks. Still, a nice song, and Lauper's voice adds a nice contrast by this point in the album. A solid closer for this album. 

Julian Lennon On New Album 'Jude,' Grappling With His Namesake & Embracing His Bittersweet Past by Morgan Enos | GRAMMYS / Sep 9, 2022:

https://www.grammy.com/news/julian-lennon-jude-new-album-comeback-john-cynthia-paul-mccartney-get-back

 

My son and I meeting Julian Lennon at the "Touch the Earth" book signing event on Saturday morning, April 15, 2017. It was a thrill to meet him!