Jonezetta - Cruel to Be Young
Rating
RIYL
The ShinsModest Mouse
Panic at the Disco
The Killers
Tracklist
1. Wide Awake2. Holding Onto You
3. Busy Body
4. Paint & Picture
5. Sick in the Teeth
6. Cruel to be Young
7. Fur Coat (Roaming Like Animals)
8. Valentine
9. Untitled
10. The Queen City Song
11. I Watched You, Out From Your Window
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I must admit, when hitting the play button for the first time on Jonezetta’s sophomore release Cruel to be Young I was mostly expecting eleven tracks of pulsating disco pop in the vein of the standout track from their debut, “Get Ready (Hot Machete)”. How utterly deplorable of me. It was with great surprise then, that as the shimmery guitars of opener “Wide Awake” flittered in, followed by the quaintly pretty keys of “Holding Onto You”, I realized that this is a different Jonezetta altogether.
And it must be noted, a more triumphant band as a result. With a new sound fitting somewhere in between Modest Mouse and The Shins, whilst maintaining their ability to get hips a-shaking, the tracks that make up Cruel to be Young all sound as if they are lifted from the better episodes of The OC. And for all The OC got wrong, it certainly knew good sea-breeze indie pop when it came across it. At its very best, this album brings memories of the painfully missed The Anniversary flooding back.
Jonezetta have delivered a collection of feel good, summery pop tracks that in one sense demand little attention over the occasional nod of the head and tap of the foot. However, in another sense, the songs are actually quite delicately layered affairs, with echoing pianos and lightly plucked guitars creating really rather elegantly crafted pop songs. On more than one occasion the sound mirrors that of Panic at the Disco’s latest, Pretty. Odd., certainly on “Fur Coat (Roaming Like Animals)” in its gentle tribute to classic pop of the past. Add to this the closing track “I Watched You Out From Your Window” which, save for the vocals, could easily be a forgotten Sigur Ros track, and you are left with a hugely well-rounded and enjoyable disc that invites multiple listens.
Moving away from synth heavy dance pop to more daintily crafted, breezy indie pop that evokes comparisons to today’s greats, and yesterday’s legends, might just be the best career move Jonezetta ever make.
--Alex Davies
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PA
A Spaceman.
Fort Bragg, CA