Jeff Finlin
American songwriter inspired by the Beats

"It's a record about finding yourself and reaching the place you're meant to be", says Jeff Finlin of his new album 'Somewhere South of Wonder'.

Reaching that place in his own career's taken Finlin some time.   He grew up in Ohio in the '70s and by the early '80s was drumming in a post-punk band in Boston, "a really rough time".   He tried LA and hated it and didn't fancy the fast-and-loose of New York.  So, in 1983, he moved to Nashville.  "It seemed about the only other music centre I could go."  There he drummed in a band called The Thieves with his childhood friend Gwil Owen.   They made an album, 'Seduced By Money', produced by Marshall Crenshaw.  But it wasn't until the late '80s that he started writing his own songs.   "I got into a relationship which meant I had to break down a lot of walls in myself and songwriting was a by-product of that.  I'd never had the courage before.   But Henry Miller didn't start writing until his late-30s", he notes.

His first solo album was a low-key affair, released on his own label and sold from the stage at gigs.  "I've only got one copy left myself", he says.   A second, 'Highway Diaries', appeared on Little Dog Records.   His first British release, 'Original Fin', was released last year on Gravity.   Recorded in New York with Tom Waits' long-time guitarist Marc Ribot and bassist Tony Garnier from Dylan's never-ending tour, the Uncut review described Finlin as "a real find". 

Recorded partly in his own living room, 'Somewhere South of Wonder' is even better and mines the same motherlode of American music as songwriters such as Bruce Springsteen, Steve Earle and Dan Bern.  It's also a highly literate record.  "I love language, and the Beats influenced me a lot", he says.   "People like Kerouac, Ginsberg and Burroughs made everybody look at words in a different light."

But his songs also display an intuitive sense of rhythm.  "I think it helped having started as a drummer.  I'm a very lyrical guy and the words are important.  But when I listen to music it's always rhythms and melodies that I hear first.  I grew up on that whole American soundscape.  I just had to pay attention.   The songs on this album were given to me.   Who knows from where?"

Nigel Williamson
Uncut
November 2002