Max Jury: Max Jury review – polished Americana-soul-country hybrid

Born in Des Moines, Iowa, Max Jury has now decamped to London and toured with Lana Del Rey. His self-titled debut album features musicians who have worked with D’Angelo and Alicia Keys, and their chops, plus Jury’s obvious reverence for the likes of Gram Parsons and Randy Newman, creates a strange mix of polished country soul and classic 1970s Americana. There are stripped-back piano numbers that recall Jackson Browne (Great American Novel); slide guitar and country soul that’s not a million miles away from Matthew E White (Standing on My Own); and the Elton John-esque (Grace). The most contemporary track (opener Numb) sees him step out on his own, and sounds like something Bobby Gillespie might write if he cared about chart position. It’s broad, sweeping and at times epic in scape, but those influences never really leave the picture, and most songs feel as if they are trapped in the shadow of much grander fare.