There are many standout tracks on Cassandra Jenkins' wonderful new album, My Light, My Destroyer, but as the second song on the record, "Clams Casino" is the first one that feels like a proper introduction to the universe in which we've been invited to explore along with the songwriter. If you spent enough time with Jenkins' previous album An Overview on Phenomenal Nature, you'd be inclined to describe her work as ambient, soft rock that merges with spacial, astral jazz. On the follow-up, she went back to her high school days and dug deep into the post-grunge sound of Radiohead's The Bends, the everlasting allure of the Pixies, and the '90s revival of Tom Petty's brilliant Americana roots, having them all in heavy rotation as she worked through what would become her latest release. You can hear the sound of all of those influences coming through on "Clams Casino," a driving rock song that has more muscle to it than the divine work of her past and highlights her excellent work as a guitarist in addition to her strong songwriting skills. It's a song about loneliness, her late grandmother, and the ability to still find in hope in despair. "I don't wanna laugh alone anymore" is the mantra she repeats throughout the tune and by the end of the track, her exhaustion feels real, but her desire to proceed and move forward is even more powerful. It's a steady and solid reminder that perseverance can be a challenge, but recognizing it is half the battle towards finding that everlasting peace.
My Light, My Destroyer is out now.
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