CD Title: Popularity (Tooth & Nail, Oct. 2006)
The story is one that has been heard time and time again: A few guys from Smalltown, USA, catch the music bug and start a band. But whereas the story ends there for many groups, that was just the beginning for Jonezetta. With years of practice and some big goals, the band worked its way up the musical ranks and has now found itself on a legit record label, touring with groups such as The Classic Crime, The Fold and Far-Less and making a name for itself around the country.
Jonezetta is thriving on their first CD, Popularity, with their upbeat style, which is made up of melodies that fit into the currently popular neo-new wave genre. Jonezetta has a little more of a serious side than bands like The Killers (which could be a good thing) but with not as much imagination (which could be a bad thing), and a few touches of retro-late-’80s-early-’90s-rock-pop beats like those delivered in the past by bands like Afghan Whigs (sans the creepy factor) and The Music.
Songs like “Man In A 3K Suit,” “Communicate” and “Imagination” tend to run together from an unfortunate lack of stand-out hooks, and the song “Backstabber” may as well have been written by The Killers it sounds so much alike, but there are a few moments of originality, with the soft and sweet intro to “Hot Machete” and the acoustic guitar that makes its way through on “Waiting.”
Popularity is a great jumping-off point for a band like Jonezetta, but there is a nagging worry that if these boys don’t step it up a notch they may get left behind along with the vast number of unknowns that are playing this kind of music, which has breaking pop/rock levees and flooding the mainstream airwaves over the past few years. Let’s just hope they have a few more tricks up their sleeves that will help carry them up and over the heads of the others in a wave of music that is filled with heart and blessed with staying power.
For more information, visit www.jonezetta.com or www.toothandnail.com.
Upcoming Performances with Mute Math:
9/19/06 The Showbox, Seattle, WA
9/20/06 Alladin Theater, Portland, OR
9/21/06 Slim’s, San Francisco, CA
9/22/06 Underground Cafe, Roseville, CA
9/24/06 Soma, San Diego, CA
9/25/06 Henry Fonda Theater, Los Angeles, CA
9/27/06 Launchpad, Albuquerque, NM
