ALBUM REVIEW: Jacob Shipley contemplates aging on new EP
*This review originally appeared in our February 2025 issue*
Artist Photo by Sy Chouncaisit
“Shipley does a masterful job at connecting the themes of aging, retrospect, and looking towards the future…”
It is pretty clear by the title of Jacob Shipley’s EP, Getting Older, that there will be some themes of growing and aging intertwined in the songs within. Added to that, the first track is simply called “Older.” The opening line,“I think I’m getting older, I’m getting excited about socks…”, had me believing that it was going to be a light-hearted approach to the subject. But by the time the two-and-a-half-minute song wraps up, there are much deeper musings of aging, including losing one's parents and even losing one’s memory.
As someone beginning my fifties, the last minute of “Older” hit hard.
Luckily, Shipley’s soothing voice and smooth acoustic guitar were there to act as a guide of sorts, softening the blow of thinking about the inevitable. Even though Shipley is still in his twenties, the song rang with an air of someone who has already experienced a lifetime.
Once I dabbed the tears from the corners of my eyes (I think there was some dust or something in the room), I was ready to move on with Getting Older.
“Kitchen Floor” is the second track and it feels as if it is exploring another aspect of aging, but this time it was the aging of a relationship. Is it a solidifying of two souls bound together, or is it the last moments of a fading love? While the lyrics may be ambiguous enough to leave the song up to interpretation, there is something about the melancholy guitar and the slight urgency in his voice when he repeats, “It’s you, it’s you…” that seems to lean towards the latter.
“Death of Me” has a more straightforward guitar cadence than the previous two, but with more guitar layers and lyrics that are nothing short of pure poetry; this one feels like it takes the EP up a notch.
Getting Older also has a ‘sequel’ to an earlier song. “Kitchen Floor II” is even more melancholic than its predecessor, which does seem to confirm my suspicions above. The line, “There are cracks in the tiles from where we used to dance, and the memories of our long dead plants still float with their siblings where we gave this a chance…” just does not seem to be one that signifies a love that carries on.
Through the remaining few tracks, Shipley does a masterful job at connecting the themes of aging, retrospect, and looking towards the future. These songs don't ever feel outright sad, but rather contemplative and even accepting of what is sure to come to all of us. Getting Older feels like his way of letting us know it’s not so bad.
With just an acoustic guitar and Jacob’s voice, both of which are intricately and sparingly layered, Getting Older is a perfect acoustic album. Lovingly written, produced, and recorded by Shipley himself, this one is deserving of accolades on a national level.
Getting Older is out now on all major streaming platforms and can be purchased on Bandcamp. For updates on Jacob Shipley, visit his website at www.jacobshipley.com
