Laney Jones - Stories Up High (2022)

Discovering herself, Laney Jones found justification to be filled with hope in spite of everything and Stories Up High convinces you that there are reasons to be hopeful even during these trying times. Ten years on from her initial success, she’s in a far different place and is a far different person. “I think that even the smallest voices really have something to say; usually, those who don’t speak up or who hurt the most are the ones who are saying something that needs to be heard.” Because she started only writing for herself, she gave voice to the voiceless and found new connections.

From the opening tympani of “Stories Up High,” the territory being travelled is often not exactly what might be expected. That initial blast gives way to something a bit quieter and more questioning. “I fell from stories up high/ I died a little inside/ But if I had a crystal ball/ I never would have lived at all.” Wending our way down roads, surprised by our path, getting to unexpected clarity seems to be the only way to really know oneself.

In paraphrasing Miles Davis, the master of the trumpet, Jones reached a new sense of purpose, “It takes a long time to actually sound like yourself.” But now that she’s in this place, she’s trying to make the most of every minute. “Secret Weapon” has a soft-focus opening that leads to her singing against a huge sounding bass drum and sparse piano, which all comes together in a chorus that lays out a philosophy filled with hope despite what may be many less than encouraging signs.

No stranger to depression, she’s found ways to come out in a better place. Righteous and rocking, “Not Alone” makes it clear that she has found a way forward. “You’re not alone/ I’m not alone/ We’re not alone.” That shared sense of mutual experience is a key to getting to a place where being who you are is the only thing that makes sense. Evolving is a beautiful thing.

Now, where is that clearer than on “Rocket to Mars.” Somewhere amidst the slide guitar and organ, things begin to click into place in unexpected ways. “I was finding that place of spirituality and how there’s nothing to fear, in a sense, because everything is continuing on, like with Einstein’s theory that the universe keeps expanding and time keeps happening, so it never really ends.” There’s plenty of comfort in knowing things continue apace.

Laney Jones is not the same woman who broke onto the music scene ten years ago. Along the way, she has dealt with demons and depression, finding new pathways forward. Stories Up High illustrates the growth and acceptance that allow her to remain positive during uncertain times.