Jason Bajada’s fourth album, The Sound Your Life Makes, is a haunting tribute to love, heartbreak and moving on. Bajada’s melodies have an airy feel of indifference, while his voice tells the opposite story. The music is simple and never overdone, giving us little to contemplate within the beats and chords. Despite the gentle feel of each track, Bajada’s lyrics are surprisingly deep. This album was meant for the people who really listen, not just to the first layer, but to each and every layer underneath.
Bajada jumps right into it with “Sunday Song,” which begins with a seemingly random array of sounds that lead us to believe (in fear) that maybe this album is just sounds of life — sirens, footsteps on the stairs, rain on windowpanes. At first, “Sunday Song” reminded me of the lazy Sunday afternoons of my childhood, spent on swing sets and grassy lawns in the sunshine. I’m assuming this was the first impression Bajada wanted us to have; however, the lyrics tell a different story. It’s like this first song is a parallel version of life itself. First impressions aren’t everything, and few things are really as they seem. If you’re not listening, and listening well, you’re likely to miss a lot.
The album moves forward, always keeping pace with itself. The second track, “The Sound Your Life Makes,” inspires pain but also hope. Each track is incredibly relatable, each with a different feel and different first impression. Bajada sings about things most of us have been through and experienced, but don’t have the means to express. He does so, very well. With the exception of the seventh track, the song titles serve as previews of the songs themselves, and have (semi) predictable ties to the lyrics. The seventh track is entitled “Panama,” for some reason known only to Bajada. Amidst the words and emotions that he’s shared with us, it’s almost nice that he’s kept the reason for this title to himself. Just like some things in life, we have to realize that we’ll likely never know the truth and we have to be OK with that.
Overall, Bajada’s The Sound Your Life Makes is well worth the listen. It’ll inspire feelings of familiarity, as if Bajada is singing about your own life and not just his experiences. That the emotions in his songs are emotions most of us have felt at one time or another during our lives is what struck me most about Bajada’s music. His lyrics inspire comfort, reminiscence and reassurance. All you have to do is listen.
— Leah Hansen, staff
