Zac Bauman: “Bell Jar” (2017) CD Review

Zac Bauman is a singer and songwriter based in Sacramento. He plays a variety of instruments, and on his 2017 album Bell Jar he plays nearly everything you hear, apart from the trumpet and trombone. As you might guess from the album’s title (assuming you are familiar with the Sylvia Plath novel), the songs here deal with depression and mental health. But no, the album is not a downer. Rather, it offers hope, the music seeming to be coming from the other side of the struggle at times, and reaching a hand to those still mired in it. All the songs on this release were written by Zac Bauman, who also mixed the album.

Bell Jar opens with “Over And Over,” which has a rather pretty and uplifting folk sound as it begins. And so, because of that sound, that vibe, the song’s first line comes as something of a surprise: “Birds call me out, and I lower the muzzle from my snout.” The word muzzle has multiple definitions, but I can’t help but think of the barrel of a gun here. A decision has been made. And, yes, this song has a positive feel. Check out these lines: “Life makes a sound/You can hear it vibrating all around/You don’t know the song/But hey, you’ll hum along/‘Cause it’s over and over before you know.” Yes, it’s all over so quickly, before we really get a hold of things, before we learn what it’s all about. This song leads straight into “Requiem For Joe Death,” an instrumental track featuring some really nice work on guitar. It has a classic vibe to it, fitting in the tradition of some of the great folk and acoustic blues numbers.

There is also something of an old-time folk feel to “(Nothing) Like A Rolling Stone” as it begins, with the work on banjo. But Zac Bauman’s vocal approach is somewhat at odds with that vibe. It is a voice with an ethereal quality, which works particularly well with lines like these:  “Grin and bear it all inside/Though you know that's not a cure/But a means to get by/Just look around you now/If you want to see heaven/This life is a beautiful something/If you take it in stride.” This is the first track to feature horns. That is Joe Espena, and he delivers some wonderful work here. That’s followed by “Soulmate,” which begins with a reading of the first two stanzas of E.E. Cummings’ “Somewhere I Have Never Traveled.” Then percussion dominates the track, but with an interesting spiritual bent to it. It is a compelling sound and vibe. There is something otherworldly about this track, including the vocal performance. “Well, a night is long, but it’s longer in an empty home/Put your face in my hands, it’s nothing but a wonder.” The track takes an interesting turn toward the end, focusing on guitar and banjo.

Zac Bauman’s vocals have something of a progressive rock sound, on the album’s title track and others. “Bell Jar” is such a wonderfully strange song. The sound is part childhood fairy tale or something, which makes it kind of eerie, kind of beautiful. “And so you shrug it off/That ever-nagging heartache/And put a smile on/By moving muscles under your face/But inner voice, it howls/And paints the world a glimmering grey.” Another line that stands out is this: “God is a hoax, is a lie, is a comfort for desperate lives.” True, though I try not to disparage anyone’s source of comfort, so long as that person doesn’t use it to harm others. Aren’t we all a little desperate? Then “This Lonesome Life” is pretty as it begins. “Say what you want, it's a lonesome life/Cast out your demons, but they linger at your side/All the world is waiting for that golden tunnel light/To save us and erase us from this lonesome life.” Approximately a minute in, it takes on something of a Danny Elfman vibe. A darkness arrives, but with a sense of being part of a carnival. I love it. The track then ends as it began. That’s followed by “Exaltation At World’s End,” an instrumental piece with different sections, featuring some excellent guitar work.

As “Beleganjur Blues” begins, it is like the piece is already in progress. Percussion plays a strong part in the song’s vibe. “Soon flesh to ashes will flower/Spirit rising from tower/While my heart is devoured.” This song begins to feel like it is marching toward the heavens, toward oblivion and uncertain glory, and it’s one hell of an interesting journey. Joe Espena plays on this track. That’s followed by “Blasphemer Rag,” which begins with the sound of static, like we’re listening to an old record. I never care for that effect, for it never rings true. That being said, this is a good song. I appreciate these lines: “Pardon me, but I don’t need no threat of burning hell/To lead a life of well-doing and peace/But that’s just me.” It reminds me of something Penn Jillette said: “The question I get asked by religious people all the time is: Without God, what’s to stop me from raping all I want? And my answer is: I do rape all I want. And the amount I want is zero.” It worries me that the only thing keeping some people from doing horrible things is fear of a mythical being and mythical place. Joe Espena plays on this track too.

There is something soothing, comforting in the sound of “Breath Of Life,” with its light vibe at the start. “A little breath of life/That’s what you want/It keeps you up at night/When you remember it’s gone.” I suppose what is comforting about this is that it is true for everyone. It’s all we have, a little breath of life, and then it’s gone. This track is pretty as it fades out. That’s followed by “Snaggletooth Rag,” a fun guitar instrumental track. Whenever I see the word Snaggletooth, I can’t help but think of one of my old Star Wars figures from my childhood (and yes, I had the tall figure with the blue outfit). But no, this music does not sound like that of the cantina band from that scene. It is, however, delightful. Then some wonderful guitar work gets “Stranger To You” off to a great start. It’s nearly two minutes in before the vocals come in. “Always seem to find that your mind is a tangle of troubles/And your heart is a tangle of tunes/When you look around and you’ve found that your life is a stranger to you/How do you even begin?” There is something quite catchy about this track. It’s another of my personal favorites. There is even some nice work on harmonica toward the end.

“While Rome Burns” contains some contemporary pop elements, but also accordion and some cool work on electric guitar, giving it an intriguing and unusual sound. These lines stand out: “Every time I lift my head, I feel the sting of wasted hours/All my dreams are moving on, while I just sit, inhaling flowers/Tell me, tell me what you can to alleviate desire.” The album then concludes with “That Familiar Feeling,” which starts with a compelling instrumental section that takes us through darkness and into a dawn just before the vocals come in. And is that a harp? The vocals have a strange, otherworldly vibe. “Form is a lie/What you are, you ain’t/Death isn’t to die, only a transformation.” And we are ready for any odd turn the music wishes to take. There is a hint of magic to it.

CD Track List

1. Over And Over
2. Requiem For Joe Death
3. (Nothing) Like A Rolling Stone
4. Soulmate
5. Bell Jar
6. This Lonesome Life
7. Exaltation At World’s End
8. Beleganjur Blues
9. Blasphemer Rag
10. Breath Of Life
11. Snaggletooth Rag
12. Stranger To You
13. While Rome Burns
14. That Familiar Feeling

Bell Jar was released on September 17, 2017.