ARTIST: JET
ALBUM: Shaka Rock
LABEL: Real Horror Show Records / Five Seven Music
RELEASE DATE: August 25, 2009
JET — Rockin’ It Aussie Style
Written by Brett Bayne
From its grandiose takeoff from the shores of Melbourne, Australia, to an impressive landing in the UK and the States, the trajectory of pop-rockers Jet has been positively jumbo, with nearly a dozen singles charting since 2003. The band started with one raw-sounding album (Get Born), prettied things up for their sophomore disc (Shine On) and find the consummate balance between the two with their newest offering.
Taking its name from the 1974 hit by Paul McCartney is a rather appropriate touch, as this fab four-man outfit seems at least peripherally influenced by the original Fab Four’s sound; indeed, their gimmick, if they have one, is to cram their songs with as many hooks and background “yeah yeah yeahs” as humanly possible. (This is not to give short shrift to their proliferation of “uh-huh, uh-huhs” “whoas” and “oh-oh-ohs”—if nothing else, this band relishes the ornamentation of their perfectly crafted pop songs.) Wildly prolific and massively melodic, Jet doesn’t waste a single second recording filler. Co-produced with American musician Chris “Frenchie” Smith, Shaka Rock is a nearly perfect album loaded with insanely catchy tunes, at turns reminiscent of the Knack (“She’s a Genius” sounds like “My Sharona” for the new millenium), the Rolling Stones (“La Di Da” is their version of “Paint it, Black”) and Oasis (“Start the Show” could fit comfortably on on What’s the Story, Morning Glory) as well as innumerable other bands—it’s a virtual Rorschach test of musical sounds and styles. In Jet’s case, this isn’t a debit, because the band makes everything they pilfer sound surprisingly fresh. Amid the CD’s myriad upbeat raveups are standout tracks “She Holds a Grudge,” a style-shifting masterpiece, and a strikingly tender acoustic bonus track, “Everything Will Be Alright,” which shimmers with rubber soulfuness. The vinyl version comes with an exclusive track, “One Hipster One Bullit.”