“Get In Line” is a debut full-length album by The Hill, a solo project of Philadelphia-based singer-songwriter Jon Kowit, also known for being a former record store employee at Main Street Music and former Ascend Records owner. After recording a debut single with a longtime friend and a renowned Philly musician Mike “Slo-Mo” Brenner, The Hill decided to record eleven more songs for his debut. Soundwise, “Get In Line” combines a singer-songwriter approach with Americana and modern folk music. However, you’ll notice how this profoundly creative artist incorporated some of the finest properties borrowed from other different but similar subgenres like alt-folk, indie folk, folk rock, etc. He uses all these additional elements as more than necessary enhancements, accentuations, decorations, and other details to uplift his music on an entirely new level while simultaneously remaining loyal to the primary sonic direction. Therefore, these experimentations resulted in a comprehensive collection of mesmerizing songs that will appeal to even the pickiest Americana and modern folk fans.
The album commences with “Dent,” a marvelous introductory piece that immediately draws you into The Hill‘s luxurious sonic universe. The semi-distorted chord progressions serve as the adequate backdrop for all those reverby, slide guitar themes to shine upon, while Jon Kowit’s sincere vocal performance guides the listener from scratch to finish. In the meantime, the subtle percussions and warm-sounding low-end notes offer more than necessary heaviness, clarity, and depth. The album continues at the same pace with a title track, another marvelous composition that leans even more towards Americana sound. Jon Kowit showcases all these abilities as a singer-songwriter, and his previous experiences in the music industry unquestionably helped them out on this sonic voyage. “Get In Line” immediately grabs attention with all the calm, soothing, relaxing, ethereal instrumentations, while the tastefully performed vocal harmonies add more catchiness and complexity.
“Make A Find” slows down the pace, with perfectly accentuated half-time beats steering the wheel for other instrumentations. It’s a mesmerizing, cathartic ballad that presents more Americana-inspired themes, melodies, harmonies, and chord progressions, while Jon Kowit’s vocals shine even more. It’s one of the best tracks, and it invites you to dive even deeper into the otherwordly ambiance The Hill has created with such passion. “Set That Aside” channels late sixties and early nineties classic rock vibes with marvelous riffs and moderate beats. There’s a touch of country music added to this sonic equation, just to spice things up even more. Jon Kowit’s experience, knowledge, skills, and talent shine here the most, as he gives his best to convey the true Americana and country-rock sound. The artist slows down the pace once again with “Making Angels” and “Setting Sun,” two excellent folk-rock ballads that will unquestionably appeal to anyone even remotely into true Americana sounds. The only thing that differs between these two tracks is the magnificent vocals at “Setting Sun.” The impressive vocal range of the experienced female vocalist flawlessly suits Kowit’s ideas and musicianship.
Another detail worth pointing out is how the artist assembled the trackslist. He undoubtedly thought about the dynamics of the entire collection, paying attention that the tempo of these compositions continuously switches from moderate to half-time and vice versa. It’s a wise move considering that multiple songs of the same pace could sound repetitious to some listeners. Jon Kowit thought about it and this material will hold your attention from scratch to finish. “Let Myself Fall” is another standout on this material, as the artist once again showcases his impressive guitar skills by delivering more delicate chord progressions, harmonies, melodies, and other sonic maneuvers. Tracks like “More Than You” and “Wake Up Call” are also standouts, but you should pay equal attention to the entire album, as Jon Kowit created a folk-rock masterpiece without any flaws.
It’s more than clear that The Hill is one of those projects where decades of experience, knowledge, talent, and skill collide with brilliant ideas and impressive musicianship. Jon Kowit’s expertise in assembling astounding Americana-inspired folk rock songs goes beyond comprehension so many times throughout the entire album, as he navigates these genres and many more like a pro. You should immediately put this excellent full-length on your radar if you’re profoundly into expertly written and composed music. The album is available on all streaming platforms. Don’t miss it!
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