Whenever Joe Algeri’s name appears on a recording, you know you are in for an earful of pleasure. So it’s probably pointless for me to say the revered Australian’s musician’s latest project, the Jangle Band, is an absolute delight. In any event, now it’s your turn to hear the band’s debut single and I am sure you will echo my sentiments.
Both “Kill The Lovers” and “This Soul Is Not For Sale” (available June 20, 2015) resound with poise and potency to a tantalizing temper of ringing guitar chords, firm harmonies, and juicy melodies. Gazing towards the prime productions of artists like the Byrds, Raspberries and Teenage Fan Club for motivation, the Jangle Band certainly does emphasize the jangle amid these outstanding songs.
Initially called the Jangle Brothers, the band was actually never meant to last for more than one gig. Formed by Jeff Baker and Ian Freeman, the duo was eventually joined by Joe Algeri, Mark “Sid” Eaton, and Dave Wallace to make a solid band. But the group kept growing, with Shaun “Chirpy” Lahor, Phil Natt, and Dan McDonald soon claiming membership. Coming from similar musical turf, involving legendary Australian bands such as The Palisades, the Mars Bastards, Rainyard, Jack and the Beanstalk, the Peaks, and the Lazybirds, a real camaraderie exists between these talented fellows.
Pitch perfect power pop in all its hook-happy grandness, “Kill The Lovers” and “This Soul Is Not For Sale” is a superb introduction to the Jangle Band, who will hopefully record a whole album of this randy dandy stuff in the near future.
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First mistake: Ceramic (hi-gain) pickups. Someone needs to tell these guys that authentic “jangle” requires Alnico (vintage toaster-top) pickups on a Rickenbacker.
Otherwise… yeah, good Byrds imitation.