Waking Ashland’s front man and keyboardist Jonathan Jones says he wants to combine the emotion of piano-based singer/songwriters like Elton John and Billy Joel with the edginess of the Pixies, all without sounding like any of the three. He generally succeeds. Waking Ashland is often called piano rock, and for the most part, that’s an accurate description. Jones’s philosophy is most obviously manifested on songs such as “Looking Alive.” The piano moves in and out, playing a simple melody, alternating between being covered by the guitar and drums and being the focus. The CD’s first single, “Your Intentions,” is upbeat and catchy in that “this-will-get-us-radio-play” way that makes record execs and casual fans happy.
This article appears in Apr 19-25, 2007.