By Austin Price, Editor in Chief
Singer / songwriter David W. Jacobsen is an accomplished artist with a menagerie of work to prove it. His latest album, Music for the Masses, was recently released in 2023. With 7 songs, and a listening time of 32 minutes and 54 seconds, Music for the Masses is a mixed genre album that combines humor with contemplation. Jacobsen sings of contradictions, opinions, and reflections through the lens of both a human, and an artist. The album has an unapologetic response to society’s confines and contains explicit topics. However, this raw and somewhat vulgar approach to his music gives Jacobsen an air of authenticity and a tone of realism. According to Jacobsen, “this album is about the contradictions of trying to create music that other people will like that you still like yourself,”.
David W. Jacobsen was introduced to music at a young age through his friends and family. He began playing guitar in high school. Jacobsen has a unique approach to his music that is based around his understanding of the human digestion of music and tolerance for understanding of art. He explains that he tries to give people something to remember about what they listened to. He says, “Whether it is a lyric, a melody, or a vibe, I try to leave the listener with at least some kind of a hook. It could be a laugh, a groan, a specific line, or an earworm melody, but I want them to be able to differentiate what they heard,”.
Music for the Masses starts with a track of the same name. An appropriate opener to the album, the song “Music for the Masses” gives listeners an unfiltered narrative that I’m certain Jacobsen experienced in his own personal reflection. “Music for the Masses” scoffs at the mere idea of creating and recording a track covering the events of the French Revolution, a track that takes slot 5 of the song listing on the album. This song gives a rare view into the creative process of a singer / songwriter and reveals the inner doubts that artists frequently experience. Jacobsen says, “The open track, while clearly satire, is still trying to say something, in the vein of ‘Dance 10, Looks 3’ from the Chorus Line. I’m going for a bit of humor but also a bit of a middle finger to the world by opening the album with a song that says no one wants to hear a song about the French Revolution and then I include 12-minute prog-rock song about French Revolution or more specifically, the revolutionaries attempt to change how we measure time,”.
The standout track of the album is Calendrier Révolutionnaire Française. With over 12 minutes of running time and an extensive instrumental opening, Calendrier Revolutionnaire Française is a historical reflection and moral examination of the French Revolution. Jacobsen tells listeners a story in this track and takes us through the intense violence and emotions of a monumental historical event. As someone who’s not particularly interested in the French Revolution, I will say that I certainly learned some things from this 12-minute track. Calendrier Revolutionnaire Française proves to be both entertaining and informative with consistent instrumental backing and easy-to-follow vocals.
As a self-described indie artist, Jacobsen recognizes that his unusual music may not be for everyone. However, he uses his unique sound to his advantage as an artist and as a storyteller. He highlights contrast and variance in this album, while still maintaining a sense of cohesion between the songs through his sound. Jacobsen’s inspiration for this album comes from an examination of history as he believes that it is hard for artists to always write about themselves and their own experiences. By telling tales of historic roots, Jacobsen is given a never-ending amount of content to pull from. Personally, I hope he covers more historical events in his work as I thoroughly enjoyed Calendrier Revolutionnaire Française and its examination of the French Revolution and the actions of people involved.
As any artist knows, the job is never done. Because of this, Jacobsen reveals potential projects he’s playing with. He says, “At the moment, I’m working on a collection called “A Tree Falls” which follows from “For Anyone Who Cares to Listen.” It has less of a cohesive feel and is largely a collection of piano centric ballads. I also have a collection of songs inspired by works of art that I may do for 2025 depending on whether I’m inspired to do something else,”.
All in all, I really enjoyed Jacobsen’s newest album, Music for the Masses. As an indie music fan, my interest was immediately peaked by the genre of his music. However, my interest continued to grow as I continued to listen. With his extensive utilization of the piano, humorous and informative storytelling, and personal exposition and artistic reflection, David W. Jacobsen takes listeners on a journey of honesty and enthusiasm in his artistry.
To listen to Music for the Masses, visit the following links: