11. July 2025
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Media Review

John Jenkins – Restless Hearts

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

John Jenkins - Restless Hearts

John Jenkins - Restless Hearts
4.4

Rating

 4.4/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Very calm, but personal storytelling
  • Nice blending of folk and country elments

As 4th July typically leads to a rather sparse volume of releases in North America, I am happy to have a deeper look into European and other region’s releases. For 4th July 2025, having a listen into Restless Hearts by John Jenkins felt like a perfect opportunity to do so. Here is my review.

 

John Jenkins – About The Artist

John Jenkins is a British artist, who is originally from Liverpool. His music is in the Americana-folk range with a touch of country music. Thereby, he is doing solo recordings as well as playing together with The James Street Band. Solo and with his band, he has released of seven albums so far. The most recent one is the 2023 Tuebrook.

 

John Jenkins – Restless Hearts – Track by Track

The twelve track album lasts 47 minutes.

1. Cruel Wind

The album starts with Cruel Wind. It is the only song on Restless Hearts which has been published before album release. The song does have a nice country flavor, but overall impresses with its calm storytelling. Nonetheless, the zesty rhythm leads to a nice agile feeling.

2. The Disappearance

The Disappearance feels rather simple in regards of its musical ingredients. Nonetheless, it has nice plot and structure. The additional female vocalist or the fiddle parts lead to a very versatile and virtuous listen. A slower listen, which is is creating a very intense atmosphere.

3. Too Many Roads

Too Many Roads has a rather slow intro, but then quickly turns into a rhythmic and energetic listen. Especially the country-folk style chorus stays in your mind.

4. Colorado In The Spring

Pippa Murdie, the female background singer on Restless Hearts, is having quite some presence in Colorado In The Spring again. This leads to a beautiful and very personal duet-style listen. As Murdie is also the musician for the beautiful cello parts, she is definitely a key factor that this song is a very special one.

5. I Didn’t Really Want To Change The World

In the fifth song of his 2025 album, John Jenkins states I Didn’t Really Want To Change The World. Again, the song has this light ease of a folk track. However, the pedal steel sounds also lead to a nice country touch, while the quick rhythm nicely drives the song. This listen is a very enjoyable experience.

6. Sound Of Thunder

The 5:32 minute song Sound Of Thunder is the longest track of the record. It is a slow, dreaming narrative with fine melodic elements. John Jenkins’ very personal style leads to a close connection between him and the listener.

7. Brooklyn

The seventh song takes us to Brooklyn. The song overall has a rather deep and slightly melancholic touch. The more, the playful and easy post-chorus is a nice contrast to this. Again, Jenkins has a nice touch in regards of arranging the fine musical elements right in line with the mood of the song.

8. The Not Knowing

The following track, The Not Knowing, is another five minute listen. The song opens with a strumming guitar, but more and more introduces nice melodic elements as well. This leads to a very entertaining and not at all lengthy listen.

9. Spent The Night In Austin

After visiting New York City with Brooklyn, John Jenkins is taking you to Texas now. He is beautifully describing hanging out in a bar, made a friend with a jukebox and other experiences. An overall not too happy encounter with the music capital of the US-American South. But the British artist turns it into a lovely story.

10. Never Needed Much

John Jenkins’ storytelling is definitely calm and unexcited. This makes you concentrate on the lyrics and does not distract you from digging deeper and deeper into his songs. Never Needed Much is a lovely example for that.

11. The Man Who Breaks Your Heart

Fiddle, the typical rhythm and some pedal steel – Restless Hearts is spreading strong country vibes in its penultimate track. Compared to other tracks on the album, the song is very present, almost loud. Its rhythm makes you move to the music. Lovely.

12. Farthings Wood

The Animals of Farthing Wood is a book about destroying animals’ home. It also turned into a television series. For John Jenkins, this seemed to be the blueprint for the closing song of the album. A short song, which nonetheless leaves a mark.

 

John Jenkins – Restless Hearts – Spotify

Here is the album on Spotify:

John Jenkins – Restless Hearts – My View

I really enjoyed this excursion into British folk and Americana music. John Jenkins is a lovely storyteller. His compositions feel fine, but they do have a good touch and also a nice level of complexity. There could be one or two more characterful tracks or surprises on the album. But overall, Restless Hearts is a really nice record.

Favorite Song: Sound of Thunder

 

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