Brilliant lyric from an independant artist with purpose and passion! I heard much of this album online and think that this is the way independant music should be produced. Do away with slick over produced drivel. This production is raw, emotive and sincere. Any flaws in it's sound and performance only adds to it's character. Step into the fire, Legendsville and Don't tell me it's rain are stand out tracks and the musical poem Tragic faces borders on masterpiece. Keep 'em coming Lucky and inspire artists of the future who needs originality to lead them. Reviewer: Jason” - JASON

cdbaby.com

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT: Your first CD, Tangerine Sky, is religious. Why not continue with that genre? A: I've always loved Gospel music and wanted to do something in that genre every now and then, but it was never going to be all I did. I thought it was appropriate that my first cd should reflect my faith. Having said that each cd that I do produce would always have at least one Christian based track in the line-up somewhere. To what extent do your religious views permeate your current music (Subliminal Poet and what you're working on now)? A: It always has it's influence. I can never get too far away from my faith no matter what I do, but Rock'n'Roll is another great love of mine that will always be a part of me also (not that they conflict with each other which can happen). At the moment I'm taking a bit of a break as the musician's that I have worked with for the last couple of years left to do other things, and I am currently looking for someone else to collaborate with. What were your aspirations when you began writing music & when you first made Tangerine Sky? A: My only aspiration was to gain exposure as a songwriter. Initially, like most young men I've wanted to be the quintessential rock star, but I've never really fit that roll very comfortably. I'm not particularly a great singer or aesthetically marketable although if Mick Jagger can cut that mustard, then nothing is impossible. I am, in my view a fairly competent writer and therefore, use my label to gain exposure for my music in the hope of gaining recognition as a songwriter. I've found your musical style hard to define--I hear elements of rock, country, gospel, blues, Stan Ridgeway-esque 80's alternative, Greek-reggae-salsa (go figure!). How would you describe it? A: All of that is consciously correct although the Stan Ridgeway and Greek/Reggae/Salsa connection takes me by surprise. I don't really define it in any way. Music is just music to me, I love all types and I listen to all types and I think that reflects in what I write depending on where I am emotionally at that moment of inspiration. I hear a definite maturation through your CD's, in a variety of ways. What do you attribute this to? A: The whole precess is obviously a learning experience. I've done everything myself without any guidance and therefore I have made mistakes, learned from them and grown artistically as a result. All this I think is evident in the music and present with each subsequent release. What's the inspiration behind the more experimental pieces (eg: The Terrorist, Intro: Tripod Suite)? Do you thing you'll explore that genre more? A: I love poetry and experimenting with things I've never done before and will always do this because it makes it interesting for me even though most people that I've played these pieces for don't get it. They tend to be favorite pieces for me especially 'Tragic faces' from the 'LONELY ROAD AHEAD' album. I've been writing poetry since my school days and have been published in various literary publications including an anthology of new poets in 1993. 'The Terrorist' (like Tragic faces) is obviously a poem inspired by current events and the world's political environment. It is anti-war and anti-violence. The only problem I had with writing it was using the point of view of the terrorist, I was afraid of sounding like I sympathized with the Terrorist philosophy which of course I don't. I was actually trying to show the ludicrousness of their logic. The murder of innocent people can never be justified by any political, religious, environmental or social view. This has always perplexed me! A few songs imply or are about loneliness. Has this been a theme throughout your life or just a phase? Why? A: Loneliness is a part of everyone's life at some point and I'm no different. The wife of my guitarist has made the same connection and wanted me to write something happy and up tempo. I'm still working on that. Loneliness tends to spark the most inspiration for me for some reason, I recently had a relationship and that only sparked one song (That's how you make me feel) and I'm working on a song sparked by our split. Another song about loneliness isn't too far away I suspect. Where do you draw the line between a poem and a song? Do you write a song intending it to be a song from the start, do all of your songs start out as poems..? A: Poetry has always been a part of my life and I love reading them and writing them and there is a fine line between poems and lyrics for me. I love a good metaphor and any lyric that can be read as a coherent poem that evoke an emotional response is always something I respond to. My ultimate goal is to do an entire album of poetry. I think 'The Doors' have been an inspiration in this field if not pioneers. Their album 'An American Prayer' is a masterpiece! What/who are your influences? A; My influences are everything from Mozart to Al Jolson to Elvis and The White Stripes. I tend to pull something from all of these people. The Tripod suite was my attempt at doing a Mozart-esque piece. The white stripes take the credit (or blame, depending on your view) for the raw demo like sound that I favor. I tend to steer away from the sterile over produced sounds that seem to be all over the charts. I like the imperfect sounds of a recording instead of the ultra perfect drivel that makes a lot of the music released sound very similar if not the same. My favourite music is Elvis, The Beatles, The Monkees, The White stripes, The Doors and (don't laugh) The Osmonds! My favourite musical style is and has always been the 50's and 60's Rock'n'Roll. There is nothing better than the blaring sounds of JO'K or Credence rockin' the speakers. You're involved in SCALA--how does that benefit you? A: SCALA is great. I enter most of the songwriting competitions and look forward to the newsletters. My work commitments prevent me from performing at any of their venues or any other as a matter of fact. I'm not (although I'd like to be) a performing artist. Stage fright is a serious problem for me, so my career is mainly writing and recording. Therefore their are no up coming gigs, only cd's. Where to next, musically? A: Musically? I'm a little uncertain as my current situation is uncertain as I don't have any collaborators. I do have a title for my next project, it will be called 'Golden luggage'. It's from the Dylan Thomas poem 'On the marriage of a virgin'. He's my favorite 20th century writer.” - Raegan Wormwell

— ARC - ADELAIDE ROCK COLLECTIVE

SUBLIMINAL POET (2007): ...by Lucky Jackson... It’s one of those great ironies where you’d laugh if it weren’t so unfortunate: the musician who’s too shy to play to an audience. But, such is the case for Lucky Jackson. “I'd like to be a performing artist,” he tells me, “but stage fright is a serious problem for me, so my career is mainly writing and recording.” And so it is that I’m reviewing his latest CD, Subliminal poet. From the first track it’s unusual: ‘Intro: tripod suite’ features an electro-wobbleboardesque rhythm with various samples, including applause, chamber music and robotic vocals. This Mozart-inspired piece sets the scene for the eclectic mix of genres that follow. Lucky’s style is impossible to define—not that he tries. Elements include rock, country, gospel, blues and rockabilly but, “music is just music to me”, he says. “I love all types and I listen to all types. I think that reflects in what I write, depending on where I am emotionally at that moment of inspiration.” Lucky’s lyrics prove he is most inspired by loneliness and Christianity. An interesting dichotomy, reminiscent of a tortured soul (maybe something to do with the stage-fright thing). “Loneliness is a part of everyone's life at some point and I'm no different,” he responds. Besides wanting to do something in the Gospel genre, “I thought it was appropriate that my first CD (Tangerine sky) should reflect my faith.” Lucky intends to have at least one Christian based track on every CD he produces; “it always has its influence”. Adding yet another element to the Subliminal poet mix is spoken word poem, ‘The terrorist’. Inspired by The Doors (“An American prayer is a masterpiece!”), Lucky’s goal is one day to create an entire album of poetry. An accomplished bard (as Bartholemew Barton), he appreciates “a good metaphor and any lyric that can be read as a coherent poem; that evokes an emotional response”. As such, Lucky finds there can be a fine line between his poems and lyrics. This makes for an interesting result when coupled with what Lucky calls “an independent sound with a demo feel… I like the imperfect sounds of a recording”. As for future imperfect sounds, Lucky is unsure since he has no current collaborators. He does have a title, though; Golden luggage. “It's from the Dylan Thomas poem, 'On the marriage of a virgin'. He's my favorite 20th century writer”. I wonder if Thomas ever performed. Lucky can be contacted through MAI Songs Music or email.” - Raegan Wormwell

— ARC - ADELAIDE ROCK COLLECTIVE