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Everyone knows that I’m only allowed (by law) to listen to
bands named after places. America, Boston, Chicago,
Japan are all fair game. But since Jersey is
from Ontario and not East Coast, I guess it’s a shirt and
not a place. Aww screw it, I’m counting it. A guy can only
hear "Final Countdown" so many times.
Greg Taylor sounds suspiciously like the guy from
Kid Chaos. Not from Zodiac Mindwarp, but the
recent punk-with-horns-but-not-ska band. Taylor does sing
more on key, which is alright if you’re into that sort of
thing. The melodic rule here is carried best by the bass work
of Mr. Johnny Lubera. Now if you’ve heard The Jam’s
Bruce Foxton, you know the impact good bass can make.
That’s the school Luby is coming from. The runs are bouncy,
bright and just damned interesting. You’re hearing a whole
story on those strings he’s pummeling. The guitars are palatable
if not ground-breaking. As a package, it does you right on
the road, in the office, and curled up on the bricks behind
the local groggery.
"Right To Know" throws some sparks with the universal
sketchy promoter story. Great unexplored topic for a song;
We rocked the show, you took the door. You’re messin’ with
our lives so now it’s personal. That’ll win them large
points with fellow musicians. A soft warm start to the anti-war
"All Rise" breaks into a fist-pumping sing-along.
It seems Jersey is putting songs together for our enjoyment
rather than sheer ear noise. It’s reminiscent of Putrid
Flowers minus the Broadway element. Particularly exuberant
bass on this one. The well-placed "Halfway There"
accepts us into the band’s camaraderie. The drumming is notably
fun and Ian Blackwood is unafraid to rush it. Loneliness
on the road is a theme used by the likes of Sixer on
down to Metallica. This take is no less earnest. I
met a rock and roll singer and saw what path to choose…He
said son, do it for yourself, do what’s right for you.
Nice changeups are taking place within. Extra points
were rewarded for including Ann Beretta’s on the stereo
in the lyrics. By the looks of "Institution,"
Jersey does seem intent on becoming a band’s band.
They discuss the perils of recording, accusations of sellout
and the other pitfalls minstrels face. Some indeterminate
chorus sounds like, Another for the underground. Let’s
go to the judges for a ruling on that. Dag Nasty’s
"Downtime" makes for a right positive fire under
your lazy ass. For the first time, I am discerning tag-team
vocals. Might have been that way all week. The voices are
pretty similar until stacked on top of each other there. Anyone
wearing Chucks, this is the time for the jumping and pumping.
On a scale of famous Canadians: if one is Martin Short
and ten is Jim Carey; Definition comes in at
eight – Tom Green. Howie Mandel is holding steady
at zero.
— Ewan Wadharmi
Track Listing:
- Right To Know
- All Rise
- Halfway There
- Institution
- Down Time
 Talk
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