Album Review // Jared Cooney // Therapy

Self-released

4.25/5 stars

Bursting with life and energy, the sophomore full-length from Erie's Jared Cooney finds the artist at a new stage of his career. For years, Cooney has been one of Erie's most underrated virtuoso guitarists, and currently plays with Mayflower Hill, Six Year Stretch, and Matt Crays. If you've seen Cooney play at all, you know that the man can shred an electric guitar. Recorded with Josh Karickhoff at Fastrax Studios in Edinboro, the 13 tracks of Therapy showcase the depths of his heart, as he makes an expert turn from an instrumentalist to a bona fide singer-songwriter. His lyrics are filled with inspiration and encouragement, a bright exodus perfect for a wooded fall drive. Following Cooney's self-titled 2015 instrumental acoustic album, Therapy carries over Cooney's nimble, percussive playing, with fingerstyle fervor, thoughtful syncopation, and a tasteful harmonic thrown in at the right time. With the kind of urgency, passion, and alternate guitar tunings that made early Dashboard Confessional and the Goo Goo Dolls so special, Cooney more than proves his worth as a solo artist. The opening track "Fly" gives a brilliant "stomp-clap" introduction, cueing Cooney's fleet-wristed acoustic delivery. Some personal favorites include tracks like "Hourglass" and "No Friend of Wisdom," which blend captivating storytelling with impressive technical prowess.