Influences can go a long way. Especially if your band was raised with tunes from The Kinks, AC/DC, and The Rolling Stones from a young age. The scene was Melbourne, Australia. Brothers Nic and Chris Cester grew up here listening to classic rock from the 1960s and 1970s. At first, bands like The Easybeats and The Faces caught their attention, and later found a bigger passion with music when Nic picked up a guitar, and Chris picked up a pair of sticks. They later met up with bassist Mark and guitarist Cameron. In 2002, the band released the Dirty Sweet EP. The timing of this record was good, concidering the breakthrough of The Vines meaning that international interest in Australian rock bands was high. Elektra Records offered the band a contract and re-released the Dirty Sweet EP in 2003. In 2003, Jet released their first debut album, Get Born, which by the next months that followed, was admired and maybe even praised by fans that developed Worldwide. There have so far been 3 or 4 singles off the album, including 'Are You Gonna Be My Girl', the song that made the iPod commercial famous, (or is it the other way around) and 'Cold Hard Bitch', the catchy rocker that many groups still enjoy. Influences can go a really, really long way.
Jet- Get Born
Jet-
-Nic Cester- Vocals, Guitar
-Cameron Muncey- Guitar, Vocals
-Mark Wilson- Bass
-Chris Cester- Drums
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This review will include the album getting divided into three portions. The beginning, middle and end of the record (theoretical order). Since there are 13 tracks, this format will suit and easier view for the reviewer and hopefully, the rest of the Sputnik users. Enjoy.
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Portion 1
My, my. The album and for that matter, the first portion kicks off with a song that sounds a little familiar. Listen up, AC/DC fans.
Last Chance, is a short and sweet track that makes a great opening. You can catch the message in Nic's vocals at the first listen. You can just tell his voice is something special. Like you know what body laungage hes using while you listen. Decent song overall, although it could have been a bit longer. It gets quiet. And you can hear the soft tambourine in the distance. It's the album's first single,
Are You Gonna Be My Girl. The simple but great bass-line gives you a glimpse already of how the rest of the song sounds like. Doesnt mean it gives it away, but just perfect for the intro. Everyones heard these damn vocals before. If you love them, then youre on the right page. If you hate them, then im sure you loved them before, but have seen that iPod commercial so many times, that it just got old. The highlight is clearly Nic's vocals on this one, as it adds to the song's speed, but at the same time progresess at a slow-enough speed to tell you a story. Great Work. Next we have another brilliant single,
Rollover DJ. Wow, what a great riff. I love it. And Chris' fills make the choruses truly memorable and just provide much more energy. As the rest of the band joins Nic at vocals on the chorus for a quick loud, "HEY", it seems like the song really cant get any better. That intro/main riff and that chorus are main highlights. Enjoy. After that brief chaos, we come about a ballad to fold upo the portion.
Look What You've Done was the third single off here, and they do a great job. The highlight here is Chris on his set, using offbeat sixteenths on the verse, and great mid-tempo fills on the chorus. The piano also makes a great appearance on this track, as it is built upon it, afterall. Vocals once again flow at the perfect speed, and complete this track as one of the best on the album.
Portion Score- 4.5/5
Reccomended Songs- Rollover DJ, Look What Youve Done
Portion 2
The second portion starts out handing us one great bass-driven number.
Get What You Need features some of the best bass on the album, as sadly, it doesnt make much of an appearance overall. After every chorus, Mark just makes those notes whisper throughout the song, giving Nic the cue to start up another great verse, and then a decent-built solo by Cameron thats followed by another great chorus and its a wrap for a great portion opener. After this, we come to the acoustic wonder.
Move On. Although the title sort of gives away it's identity, it doesnt exactly give away the rest of the song. Both guitars work together to reflect on the great vocals provided by Nic. I just think another slower song came along too soon, but thats no matter. This doesnt exactly beat the slow predecessor, but I'd say it comes somewhat close. This follows by
Radio Song, the first song ever written by the band. And so much for a faster portion. As another slower ballad, it makes quite an appearance. Highlight here are the vocals. It frames around the status of the band when they first started out. The struggle and despair every upcoming band will all probably go through and always have. "This wont be played on your radio tonight." Later we see a little heavier solo, but only briefly, as it goes back to the piano and delicate vocals. Great song.
Get Me Outta Here ends the portion for us on a great, faster, heavier note. This is one of the tracks where the drums are highly noticed.The notes flow off Chris' sticks like its nothing, and it follows Cameron's guitar-work very well. And great story-teller Nic, as I hesitate to call him now, tells a great, but pointless story of pretty much losing your mind. This is a great closing and matches the upcoming song very well.
Portion Score- 3.5/5
Reccomended Songs- Radio Song, Get Me Outta Here
Portion 3
Cold Hard Bitch. Thats all I have to say. What a song. Best drums on the whole album, and vocals need so much attention, that the whole song halts just so Nic can roll some great lyrics off his tongue. The riff WILL pull you in. Theres no resisting it at all. And the bass-work by Mark flows along with the floortom quite well to project a sound that seems as if it was coming off just one instrument. The highlight here is the very-well bulit bridge, as it seems like the song starts all over again, and takes you for one more spin. Follows with
Come Around Again is another ballad dedicated to a lost friend of Nic's. The buzz effect on the snare is quite interesting here, as it is somewhat different to Chris' work on the other slower songs. The chorus flows well, but I really cant stand to listen to something like this right after a song like Cold Hard Bitch. Just doesnt Compare. Following with the fast-pounding
Take It Or Leave It the portion gets back on its feet. Not to say anything at all about Nic's vocals here, cause you cant hear ***. The drums soften you up for the great guitar-work, and flows very nicely at the verses. Although it is fairly short, it still somehow seems like its dragging on too long. But some of the best guitar-work on here. Follows with one of my favorites on the album.
Lazy Gun delivers the goods on the very front of the line. The chorus makes you feel it. As it is mellow, unlike the more guitar-driven verses. The lyrics are quite funny if you listen in as well. "Lazy gun messed up my television screen." Nic does a great job with both vocals and rythm material. One of the best tracks. The album comes to a sudden halt with
Timothy, another ballad about either badmouthing some poor kid, or I think an old band member. You really cant be sure. Anywho, not much to say here. Very mellow, with not great material vocal-wise or guitar-work for that matter. Very poor way to end the album. Why must it be so slow?
Portion Score- 3.5/5
Reccomended Songs- Cold Hard Bitch, Lazy Gun
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Pros
+Vocals
+Best drums this side of Australia! (Cester- an upcoming Phil Rudd)
+Great for a debut
Cons
-Too damn slow
-Changes of pace come in at the worst times
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There you have it. Although not the best debut album we could have hoped for, they still came out strong with a great number of hits off the album. As vocals and every sort of line will become very addictive overtime, for most fans of the genre, it will become hard to put down at times. And awfully addictive if youve watched that dreaded iPod commercial a few times through. Jet is currently preparing to go to the studio to record another album, and claim it will be a bit heavier this time. Thats the sort of variety this album lacked, and doesnt make it a must-buy album. Maybe download a few, and take the rest out for a test-drive.
3/5
