Review Summary: Welcome to my life. This is me.
Jeromes Dream were a wonderfully unique band, they were truly unlike all of their peers. They were well known for their live performances where the bassist and vocalist Jeff Smith would scream so loudly that his voice would be audible over the bedlam surrounding him even without the aid of a microphone. Their sets would usually be extremely short, lasting less than ten minutes, they believed that was all they needed to get their point across. They couldn't have been more right. With this album clocking in at a little over thirteen minutes, Jeromes Dream have no difficulty showing what it is that they do in a short period of time. But what do they do that makes them so unique?
One of my favourite things about Jeromes Dream is how each of the three members is equally important. The bass does not play a large role in most of the ten songs, save for the occasional squeal of feedback, but the vocals, also provided by the bassist, are certainly one of the most noticeable things about Jeromes Dream. They're practically known for the glorious high-pitched yelps of Jeff Smith. He was known for coughing up blood during shows because of how much his technique strained his voice. The lyrics Jeff wrote are also absolutely flooring, if you bother to read them.
"and these sleepless nights. tossing and turning. the second most important part of me is untouchable. we had one night and not enough time. we all make mistakes. there's nothing i can do. it's just a part of life. welcome to my life. this is me."
- It's More Like A Message To You
"a willing participant in a game of cat and mouse. i'm the mouse. bon appetit."
- Life Is What You Make of It
"it's repetitious. i can't figure out how to let go. it's repetitious. i tried to find a way to say goodbye, but you weren't there. off on cloud nine. off on cloud nine. i cut off my arm, but it still didn't compare to the shock of losing you. then i woke up."
- A Second Grade Art Project
"i look in the mirror and i can't recognize the reflection. this can't be me. i hate this person, but the mirror doesn't lie. i've lost sight of who i am and who you are. who we are is not the same. two sad, blank eyes staring back at me, begging for some understanding. the only thing that i can see is that i still love who i thought you were."
- And Just Like That The Year Is Gone
So along with the huge role that the vocals play, the drums and guitar play an equally huge role, with each of the two instruments building off eachother to create incredibly heavy sections that pound your eardrums. The music is largely based on rhythm, often playing off-time signature breakdowns and fast-paced octave riffs all along with the drums following along with the guitar rhythm in a way that is undeniably heavy and energetic. Everything about the music on this album is completely insane, in the best way describable.
Jeromes Dream were very clear in the concept and philosophy of their music. It was a sonic recreation of their lives. "We soon realized that what started as a spontaneous meeting was going to become the epicenter of our lives. Jeromes Dream allowed us to be liberated from all that hurt us. It also acted as the base to our friendship. The three of us never knew what we'd end up creating together, but it was clear that we needed each other to make what we made. We were invested in eachother. It didn't matter how good or bad we were as band, we believe JD is an accurate representation of what was going through our minds and our hearts between 1997 and 2001."
There is truly no way to describe what you're hearing when you hear this band, but this album is the best they have to offer in terms of all-around quality, and in a cohesive experience. Most of Jeromes Dream's releases feel as if they are a bunch of sloppy songs collected together, but this album in itself feels cohesive and if it was all based around one single event; the life of the members of Jeromes Dream. There is no way to accurately describe what this album sounds like. I can only implore
you to listen for yourself.
"Please make your lives extraordinary."
- Jeromes Dream
