After a long, hard think, I’ve decided to dedicate this post
to one of my favourite bands at the moment; the Mystery Jets. Their
long-awaited fourth studio album, Radlands, was released in April and although
I haven’t been able to have a thorough listen of it, there are a few choice
cuts that I’d like to share with everyone.
With the group upping sticks and moving to a shack in
Austin, Texas to record, the album channels a strong American vibe throughout.
But as a band whose sound is constantly evolving, a unique British element is
ever-present and gives the record a cutting edge.
The first song from Radlands that caught my attention was
its maiden single, Someone Purer. A simple melody throughout the intro and
first verse eventually builds up to a scintillating rallying cry accompanied by
the sing-along hook of “give me rock and roll”. This track has a really life-affirming,
anthemic tone and sets an incredibly strong standard as the first single.
Another highlight of the album is Greatest Hits, the fifth
song on the tracklisting. The song’s story is a lovely journey into the musical
back catalogue of a couple’s relationship and although having a tame intro akin
to a number of standard folk songs, the real magic comes from Blaine Harrison’s
neat lyricism and the catchy chorus complete with pop-inspired “shalalala”’s. Greatest
Hits is definitely one of those songs that you felt you’ve heard before and its
feel-good nature ensures it will be one of many in a batch of new fans
favourites.
The final song, and my favourite track in this mini review,
is The Hale Bop. Scattered with brilliant falsetto parts which contrast nicely
with William Rees’ gravelly voice, this is one that’s bound to make your toes
tap. The Hale Bop is also one of the tracks that is most inspired by Radlands’
Texan, country music roots with the incorporation of intricate guitar riffs entwined
with each rendition of the chorus. Having always personally viewed the Mystery
Jets as a perfect summer band, this song helps them to live up to that
expectation and I’m certain it won’t go amiss in this summer’s festival scene.
Radlands is the Mystery Jets’ most mature record yet. It
takes influence from a number of genres to make for a unique album which is
likely to place well in the majority of end-of-year lists and polls.
As it’s been a long time since my last post, I will look to
update articles on here more frequently. Keep your eyes peeled.
