Album: Shaka Rock Artist: Jet Worth buying: Every track rocks You will be interested in this album if you a fan of: Jet, U2 at their more rocking, Classic rock, and rock that is fun to listen to. Tell Me More: When their first album “Get Born” was released, everyone was pretty excited about it. Everyone but me that is……A friend told me that I had to listen to the album and I did (several times as is my custom)…….But I just didn’t get it. I didn’t think they where bad mind you. I just wasn’t getting excited like everyone else was….But I let the songs sit in my ipod….and they started to creep into random rotation…..then a year later, I suddenly got it.
The lesson being that sometimes new music can hit you one way at one point in your life and then suddenly hit you differently at another point in your life. Never assume because you didn’t get into it now, that you won’t get into it later. This brings us to Jet’s latest album Shaka Rock. I enjoyed every track on this CD. The opening track K.I.A (Killed in Action) opens with the band seeming to channel U2 as Nic Cester sings: I live in the middle of a combat zone. / And I’m too scared to pick up the phone. And while there is a strong U2 influence on songs like this one and on songs like Hollywood (check out the songs big sky opening chorus with it’s unexpected “Don’t let life kick you down” message and you’ll see what I mean) this in no way implies that the band doesn’t maintain their own identity and sound (which they do well). If anything I think the band (like all bands worth their salt) has spent a lot of time listening to other stuff and has allowed it to mix and meld into their own groove (and maybe done a little maturing in the process as songwriters). U2 isn’t the only new influence I hear on this album, She’s A Genius opens with a fun Zeppelin meets the Knack opening guitar line that is fun to listen to. Upon reflection, I think that fun is the operative word here. This is not music that is going to change the world (And I don’t think it was ever intended to be) This is Rock’n’Roll to bounce to while you are driving in the car. This is fun Rock’n’Roll. And we could all use a little fun.
What about the packaging: This is the only place where they lose points. Standard Jewel Case, Metallic disc with black printing. There is a three way fold out insert with liner notes on one side and photo of the band on the other. No lyrics. The album still rocks though. TJR 09/17/09
Listen to samples and buy in mp3 format here
CD Format
1 comment: