Jeff Tobias

Continuing his journey towards pop transcendence, Jeff Tobias (Sunwatchers, Modern Nature) offers a beacon of hope on his latest solo album. Jumping in where he left off on Recurring Dream, Tobias moves further from the scorch of his years with Sunwatchers, though the socio-political landscapes remain. On the last album they were snuck into the syrup, an almost subliminal frequency below the bloom of orchestral hues. Here, they form the backbone of the album, sprouting pop embellishments around the edges of Jeff’s interconnected tapestry of national decline. At its core, the record is about community, a reminder that we’re not hallucinating the horrors, but that were also not alone in experiencing them. Taking its inspiration in the unlikely form of a church billboard quote that assures followers that they’re one of many, and that leaning on the fellowship is always welcome when necessary; it’s a hopeful reminder of the larger embrace of any community. It’s a reminder that there can be comfort in leaning on one another.

Tobias’ community isn’t the flock, but rather likeminded artists, activists, community organizers, and concerned individuals. Belief in something better is just as strong a sensibility as any doctrine, and that belief is in bounty on One Hundredfold Now In This Age. From calls for clarity to persecution odes, the record is the grandest scale that Tobias has attempted yet. Set into cinematic twists, the ensemble has swollen with paired percussion, strings, and several guitarists from the aforementioned community, including Wendy Eisenberg and Kryssi Battalene. The record offers up some of Tobias’ softest edges; swooning on “Political Solution” and demurring on “I Feel Hated,” but those soft edges serve as clever contrasts to moments when the sulfur burn returns. The sting is all the more potent.

“Gimme Coherence” is one of the best pop songs Jeff’s written yet, labyrinthine juxtapositions that culminate in a familiar friction from the sax. The hackles can’t remain hidden on “The Scam” either, foaming beneath the surface. Anger mixes with disorientation in the spoken word passages; rabbit holes that illustrate the daily warp of reality. Even below those passages, there’s always hope. The album’s strength lies in this hope, an ebullience that seeps out of every seam, a humor that helps through the dark. In dark times most are looking for the lit match to ignite their invective, but a soft place to fall can be just as useful. One Hundredfold offers us open arms and knowing nods.

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