“Gorgeous! Wherever you come from and wherever you're going, you will find yourself in the songs on Joe Jencks' The Coming of the Years. It's a page-turner of a concept album that pulls the listener through generations of the immigrant experience and extends musical hands and hearts across the ocean. Throughout, Jencks' timeless voice is deep, warm and sweet, but never saccharine. Top-shelf accompaniment and harmonies limn every detail. His new songs align perfectly with the ancient and the familiar to spin a wholly satisfying saga.” ~ Marilyn Rea Beyer - Host, The Midnight Special, WFMT - Chicago, IL
“Interspersing his own songs inspired by visits to Ireland to explore his heritage with carefully chosen covers and traditional pieces, Joe Jencks weaves a tapestry of love, immigration, history, and Irish pride. The instrumental arrangements support the vocals tenderly, giving Jencks' deep warm voice space to bring the lyrics to the fore. The Coming of the Years is an audio treat and a history lesson.”
~ Paul Hartman, Host of "Detour” WTMD - Baltimore, Founder - Dirty Linen Magazine
“With loved ones remembered at every turn, this album is a personal one for Jencks. And with that knowledge, you may expect maudlin. Instead, The Coming of the Years offers a deeper dive than sorrow, profoundly connecting to a rich, complicated and healing river of love. Each of these songs holds a unique key with the power to unlock even the most recessed truth. Held in Joe Jencks’s care and undeniable talent - this set of songs and arrangements are fully realized, freeing Jencks to embody century-old laments and deftly carry forward contemporary sounds of his own.”
~ MarySue Twohy, Program Director, SiriusXM
“With The Coming of the Years, Joe Jencks takes us on a journey outward to the lands he loves, and inward into his own identity as an American, and Irishman, and a songwriter. A strong theme of the album is change, the sense that no place or feeling ever stays the same. Change also shows in Jencks’ instrumentation on the album, with this being his first release to feature the electric bouzouki. Jencks also continues to show his strong support for workers and a commitment to social justice. I applaud Joe Jencks for evolving his sound and songwriting with The Coming of the Years, while still remaining true to those themes and ideals most important to him.”
~ Spencer Tritt, Multimedia Producer, WNIJ (NPR) & Host - Sessions from Studio A
“Although Joe Jenck's new album The Coming of the Years was inspired by an examination of his own Irish-American heritage, you will walk away with a deeper appreciation for your own roots, wherever they were established. Joe has composed and collected songs that take us on a journey through the lives of those who came before us, instilling pride in what they accomplished and inspiring us to carry on their dreams. Through his own rich voice and vision, Joe Jencks, takes us to places in our very own hearts and souls that were long overdue for a visit. The Coming of the Years is a welcome trip.”
~ Ron Olesko, Founder - Folk Music Notebook, Host “Traditions” WFDU, Teaneck, NJ
“With his meticulous care, craftmanship and exquisite sensitivity, Joe Jencks has once again blessed us with a thoughtful and stunningly beautiful collection. Themed from the shaping of his own heritage, Joe in his typically generous way encourages each of us to explore and reflect on where we’ve come from. Haunting, melancholy, hopeful and heartfelt all at once, Joe’s gorgeous baritone brings new perspective to the traditional, honour and homage to those written by others, and breathes life to his originals. Goes wonderfully with either a quiet cuppa or a wee dram.” ~ Suze Casey, Artistic Director, Calgary Folk Club
"The Coming of the Years, is more than an exceptional listening experience of songs influenced by Joe Jencks’ Celtic heritage. Led by Joe's warm, rich vocals, and enhanced by superb musical guests, you'll feel wonderfully immersed in time and place. This is a gem of a recording, and a 'must-have' for everyone's folk library!”
~ Lilli Kuzma, host of "Folk Festival" on WDCB Public Radio
“Jencks is living his heritage, and the picture he paints of his dual American/Irish citizenship is matched by his deep and rich baritone and a mastery of the guitar. Jencks’ Ireland is one of poets and artists. Whiskey is a sacrament, not a poison, and he is an ambassador whose combination of originals and covers had me thinking that my high school and college history lessons on Ireland were as whitewashed as that of slavery in the United States.” ~ Don Wilcock, Nippertown Albany, NY
"A lovely salute to Joe's Irish heritage!" ~ Sonny Ochs, WIOX - Roxbury, NY
“Joe Jencks' new album, The Coming Of The Years, is beautifully produced and puts Joe's voice and songwriting front and center, right where they belong. The songs tell stories of love for the land, the hardships of living in Ireland, and emigration. I'll be listening to this album for a long time to come.” ~ Joe Angel - Random Routes, KEOS, College Station, TX
“A deeply personal, heartfelt work. A testament to the struggles and hopes of the Irish people, and Joe’s growing connection to his roots. The well-thought-out combination of Joe’s original songs, traditional songs, and covers, makes for a unique and very moving listening experience!”
~ Graham and Barbara Dean, Common Sense Songs - WBCR, Great Barrington, MA
“This album is wonderful. There is something special about Joe Jencks' songs about immigration and his Irish heritage. And here is an entire album of such songs. Yet this album is not just about the Irish experience. Jencks' rich voice and the spare instrumentations give the songs a universal relevance. This is a powerful and heartfelt body of work that will occupy a favored spot in our listening rotation.”
~ Celene and Geof Lyon - Old Sloop Concerts - Rockport, MA