MDM Recordings
Release Date: September 29th 2023
Reviewed by: Joshua Andre
Jess Moskaluke– Heartbreaker EP (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Track Listing:
- Knock Off
- Good Nights
- Heartbreaker
- Secondhand You
- Not What Ya Think
- Go Get Er
Throughout all of my years reviewing, I think in terms of branching out and taking a leap of faith and reviewing music that I wouldn’t normally; I reckon it’s safe to say that I almost never do that, I mean, Christmas time is an exception, as is me listening to music so that I can blog about an artist in my on-hiatus-blog-series about influential artists. But every year without fail, I stumble across an artist that I actually like and had it not been for their Christmas music, I probably wouldn’t have checked them out and would’ve just let them pass by. Canadian Jess Moskaluke, who is relatively famous in Canada but less so in the U.S., is one of the latest artists to offer up her renditions and takes on Christmas carols and holiday songs this year in her album A Small Town Christmas (Deluxe Edition). We reviewed the project here, and with a voice and presence like Martina McBride and Shania Twain; Jess is back with a brand new EP, called Heartbreaker EP. I haven’t really listened to any of Jess’s original music, and so how does Jess rank amongst other country artists and her contemporaries like Meghan Patrick, Tenille Arts, Tenille Townes and Lindsay Ell?
The short answer? Jess holds her own as a singer and as a performer, and I reckon she’s just as good as any female country artists out there- especially her soaring, powerful and hard-hitting vocals. EP opener “Knock Off” is a fun and sassy melody about breaking up with someone and ‘dissing’ them and perhaps ‘laughing at’ them, for moving on with a ‘knock-off’ of the persona (alluding to the fact that the ex isn’t really or truly over the persona at all!); while the reflective and introspective “Good Nights” speaks about only dwelling upon the good times of an already failed relationship- because living life with a glass half full is the only way to live. The title track inspires us and encourages us that even if we are coming out of a failed relationship, good people are still present, and that other people (as friends or even potential new partners) are not heartbreakers, and are generally good people; while the rock melody “Second Hand You” details the notion that sometimes moving forward in a new relationship is better than pining after someone that you might never have the opportunity to meet or even talk to. “Not What Ya Think”, a celebratory and party themed power anthem, speaks about moving on completely from a toxic relationship and having fun with your friends in a bar; while the EP ender “Go get Er” details the amicable break up of a relationship, and the persona encouraging the guy to find the right girls that he wants and needs to suit and complement his style and to be compatible with him.
Jess Moskaluke isn’t a household name yet, and it’s also possible that some could count this country EP as a ‘nice’ album and then forget about Jess and her accolades. But this young woman reminds us that female country music artists have a bright future, and Jess should be proud of this effort, and always striving to improve her craft. Will Jess ever break into the American market? I hope so because she undoubtedly has the talent. But whether she does or doesn’t, well what matters the most is that she has released albums like this- an album that stops you in your tracks and inspires you to think more about relationships and family and those closest to you much more regularly. Well done Jess for this superb country EP, and I can’t wait to hear what is next from you in the future!
3 songs to listen to: Good Nights, Heartbreaker, Not What Ya Think
Score: 4.5/5
RIYL: Martina McBride, Shania Twain, Lindsay Ell, Lady A, Kelsea Ballerini, Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood