Album Review | ‘Made in the Shade’ by Jonathan Plevyak
Plevyak’s latest EP sends us back in time with this collection of mid-century-inspired tracks.
My introduction to Jonathan Plevyak’s music came from him opening for Pokey LaFarge at his album release show at 3rd and Linsley. The Maryland native relocated to Nashville alongside his bandmates in 2018. His early work displays a knack for 80s country rock on songs like “Love After Midnight” and “Like A Daydream.” Jonathan expanded on his rock sound in the decided heavier alternative side project Lombardy offering his vocal and guitar alongside Mike Scott. Cut to 2023, Plevyak seems to have lived several lives as he shifts his focus towards his rebranding. His musings have moved among Elvis Presley, Billie Holiday, Sam Cooke, and Johnny Cash. On his latest release, the Made in the Shade EP, he takes his aptitude for rock music into the jukebox age.
The opening track, “American Idols,” aims at Big Brother and the American economic machine. Plevyak’s guitar work lays an oppressive air over this hard-rocking Americana-leaning piece. His rebellious stance calls others to wake from their hypnosis and see the manipulation taking place through the powers that be, “Lock the people up/ Throw away the key/ Pour gasoline/ On the rebel wannabes/ Investigate the masses/ Through a peephole on their phones/ Empty all their pockets/ Replace em all with drones.” Those who were fans of his work in Lombardy will thoroughly enjoy the heavy treatment he gives this track. I get the flavor of the protest songs of Cash and Dylan lyrically albeit with a 70s rock glaze.
“Wild, Love” begins our journey into the Nuclear age with a sound made for a sock hop. This soft waltz brings to mind the sway of poodle skirts as young lovers relish in the moments of closeness this song offers them. Jonathan cherishes the unfettered nature of the woman he’s fallen for, “Wild love/ You’re coming undone/ Oh wild love/ Always on the run/ Yeah you’re wild love/ But I wouldn’t trade you for anything/ Maybe we’re gold?/ And maybe we’re fools?/ Maybe I’m too tangled in you ?/ But I’ll set you free/ You’re too rare not to be/ Wild, love.” Plevyak’s soft vibrato works wonderfully to capture a soft-hearted greaser aesthetic made to sweep a woman off her feet.
Plevyak brings some Chuck Berry flair to “Sweet Tooth.” I thoroughly enjoy the addition of horns and sax that beg the listener to cut loose on the dancefloor. Jonathan compares the rush he gets from the woman that’s caught his eye to the sugar high of various sweets, “Sweet Tooth/ So fine/ Hey pretty baby I want ya all the time/ Bubblegum baby/ My Cherry sunshine/ You’re peaches and cream/ You’re something divine/ Good golly/ Miss Dolly/ Hey pretty lady won’t you take a bite of me?” There is a cheeky nature to this seemingly innocent throwback sound that nicely tips its cap to the originals that Plevyak draws inspiration from.
“Don’t You Ever Change” ties in the gentle coo of an Everly Brother’s song into this soulful diddy. Jonathan mixes in delicious girl group-esque hums alongside starry horns to make this heartfelt dedication much more special. His words light the landscape with the many ways his lover has brought meaning to his life, “Causе you got me wrapped/ Around ya baby/ I can’t walk away/ You got my heart/ On firе lately/ You’re my golden flame/ You’ve been the light/ Over my horizon/ On all of my darkest days/ You’re really something special baby/ Don’t you ever change.” While its sound is heavily rooted in the late 50s/early 60s, its shimmering texture brings something fresh to this nostalgic piece.
Jonathan plays a reformed bad boy through the love of a good girl in “She Don‘t Mind.” I get hints of country in this old-school rocker. His many faults are something she can easily look past as her care has shaped him into something better, “She don’t mind/ When I stay out too late/ She don’t mind/ When my heads in outer space/ If she ever left me she would break my heart in two/ I don’t want nobody else/ All I want is you/ She gives my heart a life.” While it’s a cute track, I feel it’s rather short and simple bit too dull to grab me compared to some of the other songs on this project.
“Strange Times” is the second more politically charged track to grace this project. In conversation with Alfitude, Plevyak challenges that this song is more of a wake-up call to confusion clouding our minds:
“I wrote this song about waking up in the midst of all the external craziness going on in our lives and world. taking a look around and asking questions. Do others have your best interests at heart? Friends, family, media, rulers, politicians, elites, etc. It’s not a political tune but rather a wake up song. A take your voice and power back song. It’s my anti fear anthem with some retro outlaw country attitude and today — it’s yours. I hope it connects with you and empowers you.” — Jonathan Plevyak via Alfitude (2023)
He clouds the backdrop with the weight of an outlaw country rocker with a touch of gospel from the hum of the organ. Through this smog, Jonathan shakes you to your senses to the bizarre state of the world: “Uh oh, strange times we’re living in/ Something don’t feel right/ Don’t go round asking questions/ Keep your head down, back in line/ Mean kids on the internet/ Actors in the oval/ New world, new order/ Putting bar codes on the people.” I do wish Plevyak delved a bit deeper into how authoritarian things have gotten as his current stance just scratches the surface of what’s going on.
Jonathan closes the record with a ballad about wishing you could have never hurt the one you loved in “I Wish I Never Loved You.” Compared to the other songs that play to the retro sound he’s taken to, this track stands out as a tonal oddity. Plevyak laments on how his wild ways drove an unmendable crack in their relationship, “I was never lying/ When I fell for you/ But I can’t sweep you away/ Like you want me to/ Yesterdays gone/ And you can’t get it back/ I’m a roller coaster/ Shouldn’t have to deal with that/ Someday you’ll find a better man for you/ Who can give you everything/ That I want for you.” He coats this closing piece in synth strings and clear piano that feels completely out of left field when paired with the prior songs. If he had leaned more into his love of standards on this, I think it would have come across much better.
I enjoyed how Plevyak incorporated his newfound love of mid-century rock and soul into numerous songs in this release. The cream of the crop has to be “Sweet Tooth” & “Don’t You Ever Change” as they exemplify a retro meets modern sound perfectly. The final track felt too out of place to merit its inclusion on the EP. I highly recommend seeing Jonathan and his band live. Songs like “Strange Times” and “She Don’t Mind” come to life with his lively stage presence and spectacular sax player Mason Thomas who brings the house down. For a change in direction, I think this is a solid start. I look forward to seeing how Plevyak expands upon this work in the future.
My overall thoughts on the Made in the Shade EP:
Loved it: “American Idols”, “Sweet Tooth” & “Don’t You Ever Change”
Liked it: “Wild, Love” & “Strange Times”
Disliked it: “She Don‘t Mind” & “I Wish I Never Loved You”
My overall rating: 5.5 out of 10.
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