RELEASED 10-03-06
The retro Aussie rockers have finally released the follow up to the 2003 smash “Get Born” which sold over three million copies worldwide and reminded us all that INXS aren’t to be the only band to make waves from down under. Earlier this year the Melbourne boys spent six months with “Get Born” producer Dave Sardy in Los Angeles to put together a collaboration of songs set to leave echo’s of The Beatles, Oasis and The Black Crowes bouncing down the rock and roll hall of fame for some time to come. When I say this I don’t mean it in a bad way in fact quite the opposite. Jet haven’t really surprised anyone with this record but when something isn’t broken why fix it.
To be honest my first impression was that the track listing was a little back to front. You’d imagine this record to come screaming out of the blocks with the typical sleazy rock and roll sound you associate with these lads and it does, but not for long. The Beatles-esq opener is followed by the bluesy riffs of “Holiday” and single “put your money where your mouth is”, it’s after this song we take our first unexpected dip in momentum with “Bring it on back”. Not sure I’d class this as a ballad but more of a slow powerful song displaying the more mature side of the band. The distorted opening and no nonsense beats of “That’s all lies” takes us back to where you’d imagine this album should be. This is full steam ahead Jet as we have come to know them since the debut in 2003. “Kings Horses” and title track “Shine on” provide a dip into the ballad pool of the album. “Shine on” in particular is a song with meaning as this is a piece written in memory of Nic and Chris’s dad after him losing his battle with cancer. A moving, powerful recording accompanied with choir leaves you feeling this well into the later stages of the record. This really is a big sounding song with an even bigger meaning.
“Come on come on” and the sleazy guitar riffs of “Stand up” put us back amongst the thing Jet are best at, good old fashioned rock and roll. The finest display of this coming in the shape of “Rip it up”, if you come across this album in a pub jukebox this is the one you’ll spend your 20p on. A less in your face track of “Skin and Bones” leads us into two tunes that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Beatles compilation in the form of “Shiny Magazines” and “Eleanor” (Rigby perhaps). Closing track “All you have to do” links to the opener of the album and ties the parcel up nicely. Although I was impressed by “Shine on” it wasn’t what I was really expecting as a follow up to “Get Born”. It’s up and down a lot but I suppose it gives a good account of what they’re capable of whether you like it or not. I definitely think this record is a grower.by Neil
