JSR - The Other Women (2023) Hi-Res

John Sally Ride leader John Dunbar has a fascinating concept album out under the moniker JSR entitled The Other Women. The song titles might seem familiar, featuring gals named Ronda, Sheena, Emily, Rosie and Renee, among others. The back story on this project is that Dunbar decided to take the heroines from a host of old classic hit singles but reimagine their stories. In this universe it’s “Run Away Renee,” “Go to Sleep Little Susie,” “Sheena is a Prog Rocker,” and “Alone Comes Mary.” You get the picture. The songs are not rewrites but wholly new compositions simply inspired by the originals and taken in new directions. The results are reliably Dunbar-delightful, a supremely pleasant collection of tunes in the Tilbrook, Costello and Lowe song-writing tradition. Though I must confess I’m drawn to what would amount to side 2 of the record (tracks 6-10). “All the Girls Hate Alice” works the minor chords with a painter’s detail brush. “Go to Sleep Little Susie” has a hypnotic grace, balancing striking lead guitar strokes with exquisite harmony vocals. “See Emily Work” melds XTC and Squeeze vibes effortlessly. “Alone Comes Mary” closes out the album with a beautiful mournful lament. The Other Women draws from the past but only to get Dunbar’s creativity going – the end product is something new and original.