Allan Jamisen is a Phoenix artist whose Rock & Roll American is a mixture of nostalgia and disappointment in modern times. The song is a mixture of classic rocks and a reflective song. Following such role models as Elvis and Iggy Pop, Jamisen manages to produce something that seems to be timeless and yet up to date. It remarks on the shattered condition of the America of today.
There is a perfect balance of the music. The guitar riffs get you reminded of old rock and roll. Soulful backup vocals and psychedelic sounds are added to add depth and color. The focus of Jamisen lies in his voice. It is as soft and battered as it bears the burden of his message. He is a crooner, a rebel. The song is made to shine by producer Danny Saber who has produced the likes of the Rolling Stones and David Bowie. Its jagged rhythm to its dreamy resolution makes it seem like a half-remembered dream.
The words of the song are a reflection of dreams that were lost. Jamisen reflects on the disconnection between the America he once believed in, and that of today, where key values have been distorted or lost. The song is not negative however. It has tough optimism. It is sure that the rebellious spirit cannot be easily slain. The music conveys this emotion, recalling the uncivilized might of sixties and seventies rock without necessarily imitating it.
Jamisen is both a painter and musician. He is affected by Motown, art rock and European avant-garde. His artistic journey is shown in this single. It is a rock and roll which is viewed through the eyes of a painter and heard through the ears of a poet. Rock and Roll American does not simply look back and see what has gone on in the past. It struggles with it, trying to discover what still has to be saved.
