Drawing us in with an intricate, layered guitar soundscape with astral nuances, James Dunsmuir opens Breaking Down with atmospheric vocals and the lyrics, “Here we are, trying to make sense of it all, the fall, it’s too late, the damage is done, they won, ohhhh, and the saddest part of it all, we cast trust to the wind, oh, breaking down, all around…”
We immediately connect with the emotional resonance of the track and are reminded of Elliott Smith‘s From a Basement on the Hill era. That same fragile, intimate quality manifests with such authenticity. It feels like sitting alone with one’s thoughts whilst the world outside unravels. The use of the Ebow guitar is particularly beautiful. It has an almost celestial, cello-like resonance.
Elliott Smith once said, “I’m never going to be able to understand what’s going on in the world…” That sentiment feels close to the spirit of this song. James Dunsmuir is trying to make sense of a world that seems to be losing its way. There is a sadness here, but also a deeper spiritual questioning. Where do we go when the things we believed in begin to fall apart? What do we hold on to? And how do we find the strength to stay and keep believing?
There is no doubt that Breaking Down is a haunting meditation on modern America. James Dunsmuir confronts the erosion of human rights, trust, free speech and the values he holds dear. His wife described the song as “a requiem”. We can certainly hear that. Yet beneath the melancholy, there is still a flicker of hope.
We can imagine this landing a sync placement in a film like the Oscar-winning, One Battle After Another, The Tree of Life, American Beauty, The Ice Storm, The Place Beyond the Pines, Manchester by the Sea or The Shawshank Redemption. On television, it would sit well in The Leftovers, The OA, Twin Peaks, The Handmaid’s Tale and The Wire. Fans of Elliott Smith, Jackson Browne, David Gray and Mark Lanegan will find plenty to connect with.
We learn that San Francisco Bay singer-songwriter James Dunsmuir writes, performs and produces his music, working alongside recording engineer Thom Duel at Soundtek Studios in Campbell, California. Inspired by songwriters including Bob Dylan, John Lennon and Don Henley, he creates music with a clear sense of purpose.
Needless to say, we are enamoured by what James has created with Breaking Down, and have added the song to our New Music Spotlight playlist and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream his wider discography, including Ocean, and (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding.