Jelly Roll – Beautifully Broken (Pickin’ Up The Pieces)

This Is Hit Records / Stoney Creek Records / Republic Records / UMG Recording Inc

Release Date: October 11th 2024

Reviewed by: Joshua Andre

Jelly Roll– Beautifully Broken (Pickin’ Up The Pieces) (Amazon mp3/iTunes)

Track Listing:

Winning Streak
Burning
Heart Of Stone
I Am Not Okay
When The Drugs Don’t Work (feat. Ilsey)
Higher Than Heaven (feat. Wiz Khalifa)
Liar
Everyone Bleeds
Get By
Unpretty
Grace
What It Takes
Hey Mama
Time Of Day (feat. mgk)
Born Again
Guilty
Little Light
Hear Me Out
Woman
Smile So Much
My Cross
What’s Wrong With Me
Take A Bow (feat. Halsey)
Don’t Want To (feat. Keith Urban)
Devil Down (feat. ERNEST)
Really Gone (feat. Russ)
Past Yesterday (feat. Skylar Grey)
Lonely Road (feat. mgk)

Country music has changed throughout the years. it’s probably one of the few genres though that has stayed the same though; in terms of storytelling, the raw emotion invoked upon the listener as the singer peels back layers of their own past and the things they’re dealing with- and as country music has evolved throughout the years, we see more and more people enter into the country space that previously wouldn’t have bene fathomed. While in the past, people like Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, John Denver, Shania Twain, Keith Urban, George Strait, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Merle Haggard, Ricky Skaggs, Hank Williams, Martina McBride, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Reba McEntire and Kris Kristofferson would’ve been more commonplace in conversation (and no doubt a lot of these people are legends, and are still active today!); these days we’re talking about the heavyweights like Lady A, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Maddie & Tae, Tyler Hubbard, Brian Kelley, Breland, Ingrid Andress, Carly Pearce, Gabby Barrett, Anne Wilson, Lainey Wilson, Dan + Shay, Luke Combs, Kane Brown, Nate Smith, Zach Bryan, Thomas Rhett, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wade, Bailey Zimmerman and Morgan Wallen, to name a few. This year alone, others have entered into the country conversation, like Post Malone, Beyonce and Lana Del Rey. And though we might briefly touch upon these aforementioned albums sometime before this year is over (F-1 Trillion, Cowboy Carter and Lasso); one such artist that has completely turned country music on its head, is one such artist we all need to discuss right now. Jelly Roll, or Jason DeFord as he is known by his friends and family, dominated charts and wowed critics with his debut country album Whitsit Chapel, and now, the 2024 sophomore project is here. Without Jelly Roll in country music, would we have these pop artists trying to make it in this genre? Beautifully Broken comprises of 22 tracks (28 on the deluxe edition), and while that might be a mouthful, these is no filler here. Surprisingly, this rapper excels at country music, and if you all aren’t convinced, then take a listen to any track on this album (yes, any track!), and be amazed and marvelled at Jason’s brilliance in songwriting and hitting deep on the big issues of life.

Album opener “Winning Streak” delves into Jason’s daily struggle as an alcoholic (or maybe this song is based on someone he knows, rather than it being autobiographical), as the persona outlines that he longs to feel empowered by quitting the bottle, but there are days where he just wants to quit. And right off the bat, we hear a relatable person, an everyman who’s just like you and me. and when we hear Jason baring his soul, there’s something freeing and therapeutic about that. It’s not a flash song by any means, and Jason’s voice is rather rough around the edges. On the surface, this song and album shouldn’t work in country music. but it does, because Jason isn’t trying to be pretentious. He’s just being himself, and people are applauding and commending that in spades.

Heavily writing about every other of the 27 songs won’t serve me well. Even if I’ve connected with many (which I have), no doubt, no one wants to read something that might take longer than the album duration to read. And so. Let me just say this. Beautifully Broken (Pickin’ Up The Pieces) is unexpectedly one of my favourite albums of the year. “Burning” highlights Jason’s desperation and plea to God to not let him stay ‘burning’ and alone in the mess he’s in; while the prayerful and confessional “Heart Of Stone” wouldn’t feel so out of place on K-Love or Air-1, as Jason asks God to change his heart of stone to a heart of gold (Zach Williams would really excel at a cover of this, don’t you reckon?). “I Am Not Okay”, a shining light of a song amongst all of the other standouts, speaks about mental health and admitting that you are not okay, as Jason cries out that ‘…I know I can’t be the only one who’s holding on for dear life, but God knows, I know, when it’s all said and done, I’m not okay but it’s all gonna be alright, it’s not okay but we’re all gonna be alright…’– an obvious reference to being in the Lord’s presence in heaven at the end of the day; while “When The Drugs Don’t Work” is a sobering melody, a call and response song between Jason and gust singer Ilsey, as the persona asks what’s going to happen when the drugs don’t’ work, and the other person says they will be there for them. A song of true camaraderie and friendship, Jason and Ilsey have created a hopeful and powerful track of comfort and security. Similarly, Jason gets real on “Higher Than Heaven” (a collab with Wiz Khalifa about doing coke or ice or other drugs in order to feel something other than nothingness and pain and hurt); while also confronting the devil and his inner demons on the hard-hitting, vulnerable and emotional “Liar”.

“Everyone Bleeds” (in my opinion the country version of Mandisa’s “Bleed The Same”) is co-written with OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder, and is another relevant and relatable track; while “Get By” accounts of Jason’s life story and his roots and why he sings about topics that everyone can relate to- it’s just how he gets by. Piano ballad “Unpretty” has Jason reflecting on his past transgressions and the man he used to be in comparison to who he is right now (is he a Christian?); while “Grace” uses religious themes and allegories to describe a tumultuous relationship that is teetering on the edge of breakdown but still has hope and a pulse. “What It Takes” is Jason vividly and explicitly describing what he feels and what alcohol steals from you after he drinks and drinks to numb the pain, that ‘…it takes the soul from your body, rips your heart out your chest, makes you feel like you’re nothin’, but just a waste of breath, you don’t wanna see the sun tomorrow, don’t wanna face another day, suddenly, your life goes down the drain, yeah, that’s what it takes…’; while “Hey Mama” has Jason honouring his mother, while also singing about how he misses his wife while on the road during live shows. “Time Of Day”, a soaring and heartbreaking ballad with Machine Gun Kelly, speaks about imposter syndrome, and feeling like a fraud even when people tell you that you’re worthy and enough; while “Born Again” acknowledges Jason’s rise as a country singer and as a better man than before- although he doesn’t credit Jesus or God for making him ‘born again’, but rather he declares that he can’t die or be counted out because he was supposed to be born again. and that’s the extent of how deep the song goes. Jason is on a journey though, and no matter how frustrated I feel by this song, I still know that God is working through him to bring many issues to the fore to listeners that will help them with their lives as well, as hopefully draw people closer to Christ.

You can’t have a country album without a love song, and “Guilty” is that song, as Jason outlines that he is guilty of loving his wife, and if that’s a crime that so be it. “Little Light”, another melody describing the perils of drugs, alcohol and living a life of debauchery and hedonism, also outlines that there is hope and a way out while you are still breathing and are still alive; while the desperate and anxious prayer “Hear Me Out” is one that is so sad to hear, but is also the reality of a lot of people in this world- they don’t feel like they’ve been listened to, and thus they might fall into the wrong crowd if they don’t gain attention from someone with a positive influence in their life. “Woman” is a similar relationship style song like “Guilty” from earlier in the track list; while “Smile So Much”, a testimony-type track in and of itself, is a track that gives God all the glory, as Jason sings about why he smiles so much, as ‘…f you’d seen all the tears I cried, you would know why I smile so much, fought the hate I fight, you would know why I try to love, even when it’s hard, even when it feels like fallin’ apart…when you make it out the shadows, you wanna be a light, every day’s a blessin’ when you shouldn’t be alive…’. “My Cross” highlights how Jason wants his children to be free from his mistakes and transgressions, that his crosses to carry shouldn’t have to be borne by his children; while the gospel-tinged standard album closer “What’s Wrong With Me?” speaks about learning to love and accept yourself, despite your flaws and vices.

The deluxe edition of Beautifully Broken, if 22 tracks wasn’t enough, is 6 more songs longer. And boy do the extra six songs still showcase a man who’s on an incredible journey of trying to better his life and do everything to turn his life around, all the while praying to God and letting Him take control of His life. “Take A Bow”, with Halsey, is a brutal and savage takedown of an ex who scorned him (Halsey sings brilliantly and like an angel in this melody!); while “Don’t Want To” with Keith Urban on guest vocals, highlights the daily struggle of being addicted to the bottle or to cigarettes, with Jason outlining that each day he feels like starting up the habit again, and that’s what makes him still an addict. “Devil Down” with ERNEST, has Jason admitting that he lets the devil into his life everyday as he’s still not strong enough to say ‘no’; while “Really Gone” with Russ, speaks about Jason’s conflicted feelings after an ex has left him, or it could also possibly be about his emotions after someone close to him has passed away. The penultimate song on the album is “Past Yesterday” with Skyler Grey, tackles the taboo topic of sexual assault, as Jason sings about a girl who has sexually assaulted by someone she knew, and is now holding on for dear life and hoping she can make it through each day. Beautifully Broken then ends with “Lonely Road”, a collaboration with Machine Gun Kelly that is a reimagining of John Denver’s “Country Roads Take Me Home”.

Jelly Roll has entered into the country music scene. And now the genre will never be the same. Will we see others try their hand- more so than Post Malone, Beyonce and Lana Del Rey. Maybe. Maybe not. But one thing is for certain. Country music is all about the lyrics, the feeling, the emotion, the honesty, the vulnerability. And Jason and his mega-album has all of that in spades. Sure, 28 songs is a lot. Yes, he could have made two albums and released them 1 year apart. But Beautifully Broken (Picking Up The Pieces) is still a powerful release, and everyone should listen to this work or art to hear how a man has been changed. Yes, he’s still on the journey. Yes, he still swears and drinks and parties and smokes. But God is working through him and in him, and Jason, whether he knows it or not, is pointing people to Jesus. It’s not in a conventional way. But God is still working. Well done Jason for this confronting and compelling album. Will I seek out previous Jelly Roll albums? No, probably not. But from here on end, perhaps.