Jet - Rip it Up

Tue 10th Apr, 2007 in Music Reviews

I must say I was pleasantly surprised when I first heard their latest album, Shine On . You’ve all heard Rip it Up by now, it’s been flogged like a 1788 convict, and deservingly so. It’s punchy, it’s got raw passion, it’s even got a hook that has you humming along without even realising, but most importantly it’s rock – œn’ fuckin’ roll!

Backed by I Only Like You When I’m High and Jane Jones, both are non-album demos that once again show the soft side to the Melbournite foursome. As the former started playing, I would have sworn it was an Eels song, singer Nic Cester sounding very similar to the talk-singing style of Eels frontman Mr E. It’s only momentarily, though, as they start heading back into their own soft pop sound.

On first listen, I hadn’t even realised Jane Jones had started playing. If you’re not paying close enough attention it sounds like it melds into the previous track. Needless to say neither B-side really contains any of the hooks or that “rock – œn’ fuckin’ roll” energy seen on Rip it Up or previous single Put Your Money Where Your Mouth is.

This one’s for the fans.