Jet: 'Shine On' Reviews

Jet – ‘Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is’

So the big sophomore release from one of the biggest Australian band in recent times, is out this week. Jet face stiff competition from other big releases this week; indie hero Beck has an album out, hyped up folk rock outfit The Decemberists are putting out their debut, and fellow corporate rockers The Killers are pushing their second album as well. Beck of course gets favourable reviews no matter what he puts out, and most bloggers has collectively fallen in love with The Decemberists so they’re safe. A lot of venom is flying at The Killers’ Sam’s Town, so that leaves Jet with whoever has the energy left to post. So far the general consensus is this: if you like your retro rock and don’t mind the formula of the first album, then you’ll like this one. Otherwise stay far away. Which can be hard to do if you live in Australia, with Triple J radio and all commercial stations picking up on the album.

I’m not a big fan of this retro rock genre, it was fun when the Strokes and White Stripes were good but all recycled fashion has their use by date and it is now long gone past. Unfortunately Australia seems to have an endless supply of these type of bands, just look at the previous post (ok they’re from NZ but close enough). While Wolfmother is busy rechannelling Black Sabbath into the 21st century all over the world, Jet tries to rework the other big 70s rock sound: AC/DC. Now I can go on listing who else they’ve tried to be this album, but I thought it’d be more fun if I just pick the best bits of the other reviews out on the net so far this week. As said earlier, most of the American blogs and zines are focusing on three other big releases this week, so there hasn’t been that many on Jet yet.

Let start with NME. The UK rag took a break from promoting nu-rave and witch hunting emo bands and gave Jet a 7/10.
Excerpt: “…can they follow an album [Get Born] that owed such a huge debt to others with something that shows the essence of themselves? It’s a question that’s obviously plagued Jet… for about two minutes. With a typically Aussie lack of concern for daggy conventions such as ‘development’ or ‘progression’, they’ve simply made another joyfully old-fashioned rock’n’roll album immersed in the classics.“

Next we have their US counterpart Rolling Stone. Ever noticed how most of the reviews in RS gets three stars? This one was no exception.
Excerpt: “There are two bands calling themselves Jet on this record. One is the Seventies-boogie-brained Australian quartet that made the 2003 corker Get Born. The other has spent much of the time in between opening for and hanging out with Oasis.“

The Guardian also gave it three stars, though you probably can’t tell from this excerpt:
“The premise of the Melbourne quartet looks unpromising: does the world really need a Walkabout pub version of Oasis? Apparently so.“

On to the music blogs, the biggest of them all Stereogum leaked a track few weeks earlier. Apparently the UK iTunes site forgot to put the ‘Pre-Order’ button a few weeks ago so a few people could download the whole album for FREE. They didn’t say much about the album, but as usual the best part of were the comments that they got.
Excerpt: “Man everyone is stealing nowdays, like in every kind of art. There is nothing new, e.thing [everything] was written already back in 1969. J.White [Jack White] and his new band suck, Jet is at least a true rip off, following the routes of rock Gods AC/DC. Now where is the problem, and the new song is really ok.“

Culture Bully liked what they were hearing. For now.
Excerpt: “That being said, here’s the new track from Jet, ‘Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is.’ And by God, it’s good. Or at least it’s good for now, until you hear it everywhere else, and remember back to when you heard it first and reminisce ‘Man, I remember when I liked this song before everyone else did’ and start hating it.”

Noise For Toaster were less charitable.
Excerpt: “strategic use of cowbell and falsetto with the basic piano plunking that’s gotten popular will add some variety, but most of it is pretty vanilla in flavoring.“

Online magazine Sputnik gave a track by track rundown.
Excerpt: “It’s not epic or anything, because it lacks in some areas, but it is better than “Get Born”. (or in my opinion it is) It’s more original, and the songs on “Shine On” are more complexed than those on “Get Born”. Even if you didn’t like “Get Born” or if you have a strong grudge against Jet, give “Shine On” a chance.”

The biggest repository of music criticism Allmusic.com, gave the Shine On three and a half stars. Not bad at all.
Excerpt: “While nothing here is as immediate and memorable as “Are You Gonna Be My Girl?,” the album stacks up well against Get Born.”

Locally, Sydney Morning Herald‘s Bernard Zuel acknowledged while this album isn’t an engaging work of art, it would probably connect with a whole lot of retro loving Aussies.
Excerpt: “Jet feel like everything you’ve either loved or hated about the Aussie pub rock tradition. You can hear the Angels, the Radiators and the Choirboys just beneath the surface and you know it will sell beers by the container-load in big barns across the country.”

Triple J meanwhile stayed clear of delivering from verdict and took a press release stance instead. Again, the comments are most entertaining.
Excerpt: “i had a listen last nite and sorry but they are sooo unoriginal its just a mix of regurgitated rubbish, does every aussie band have to pretend we are still in the 60s ITS OVER GET OVER IT! wolfmother are the same nothing new there its just remixed 70s crap but with pathetic lyrics, and they are getting smashed in the UK they get compared to the darkness which is not good, i just want to see an aussie band thats a little creative and not pretending like they just got back from woodstock…”

Finally, the most influential music site and usually wordy Pitchfork gave this hilarious review that has the whole blogosphere rolling in stiches.

So there you have it. I know this is a lazy post, but everything I could have said about this album has already been said by someone else. Critics, bloggers and writers enjoy analysing albums and trends inside out, but the real judge here is the record buyer. If Jet managed to justify their label deal on this album sales, be sure to get another dose of retro rock from them in the near future.

Note: Out of the 12 reviews mentioned here 9 of them have Oasis comparisons. Worrisome thought.

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