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| I know what you're thinking. "Did he break six strings or only five?" |
GJ is
the comfort food of this genre. His 2008 debut Introducing Gentleman Jesse hit all of the classic notes of the "Kids Are the Same" / "Get
Happy" era recipe: black-and-blue hearted boy-girl tales served over
generous portions of chiming guitars and pumping beats. Ably backed by His Men
(who moonlight as the very mighty Barreracudas), Introducing GJ even managed to garner a good Pitchfork review,
quite a feat and a curious departure from the tastemaker's practice of ignoring most power pop releases for more culturally relevant art (apologies to SB who does his part). For all of the good
buzz of the first record, GJ fattens up the sound and themes on Leaving Atlanta and trumps his debut. Story
is that GJ suffered some pretty brutal adversity in the years between the two
releases, including being severely beaten up when he tried to help two
strangers change a tire and the untimely deaths of more than one close friend. Although
the title suggests flight, our man chooses to roll up his sleeves and fight. Throughout the new album he brawls and bawls with his city, his
girl and ultimately himself. In the frenetic opener "Eat Me Alive",
he claims "this city's trying to eat me alive". And like any volatile
love affair, the power dynamic shifts. Side One runs the gamut from good
riddance on "I’m Only Lonely" ‘when
I’m around you’; to can I come over
groveling on "Take it Easy on Me"; to bewilderment on "What Did I Do?" Songs like these are
rehearsed exchanges, the mirror fights we will ourselves to win and also the
sad truths we face only in the dark. Musically, compared
to the Intro GJ album, the songs here are a little more diverse and the instrumentation
a little more varied. The subtle changes help to flesh out the songs but don’t
flush out what GJ does best – rave up
some insistent, heavy hooked melodies from needle drop to needle pop.
Leaving Atlanta is
jammed with gems. GJ plays tough on she’s-so-cold
jangle rockers “Frostbite” & “Shivers”. To glorious results, GJ tightens
his skinny tie & reaches back to the masters on “Careful What You Wish For”, beautifully nicking The
Beatles’ “It Wont Be Long Now” and “Rooting for the Underdog” reinterprets Little
Richard’s “Ready Ready Teddy”. GJ admits defeat on album closer “We Got to Get
Out of Here” repeats the chorus over and over, almost trying to convince
himself to pack up and go. The cover shows him on the city limits seemingly on
his way out of dodge. But his guitar is unpacked and he’s not exactly thumbing
a cab. Rather, he seems uncommitted, like he’s camping out on the outskirts,
waiting for someone to talk him out of taking off. With this new record, he
should be carried home on shoulders.
Other great new stuff:
From Hotlanta to Hottawa, Mothers
Children
keeps the good power popping with new single "See the Other Guy" grab it from bandcamp.
Mean
Jeans
has a new album out called On Mars,
check out the awesome single “Anybody Out There?”
