Alex Jonestown Massacre. I do not know if I have met a band with a name that explains so much about them. They are an undeniably and self-proclaimed political band, full of passion and anger, but in the exact same breath, lively and funny, ready to turn to a joke on a dime, and lastly, well read and thorough music lovers. I sat down to hear about their new self titled album that came out on August 3rd.
The band found themselves looking in the mirror with 4 complete songs and a common theme, “being pretty fucking fed up with work” tells Paddy, who sings, plays guitar, and handles a hefty portion of lyrics. If the band was a gun, there is no shortage of bullets ready to be fired. “Everyone’s lives have gotten worse… we’re all working harder and making less money” explains Ripley who handles the other half of the lyrics, as well as bass and vocals. Working class Sisyphus. That realization, the step away from the norm, gave light to that theme. With a step back the band had realized, not found, their muse, “and it all made sense.”
The album approaches and takes up arms to this theme through two channels, the personal and the broad. Ripley began to write the more personal, experienced based songs while Paddy found inspiration in conversation, giving him a more overhead experience. Think of it like Ripley being the Mick Jones, and Paddy being Joe Strummer (the band expressed a natural admiration for The Clash). This gives the album these very interesting transitions between the up close and the bird’s eye. The struggle of the modern worker is not isolated among individuals nor does it exist solely in lofty political talk. These lessons were taught when the songwriters found themselves facing a series of upsetting and dramatic events between their last release and now; Ripley found themselves out of work, while Paddy had increasingly traumatic landlord experiences. For Ripley, this birthed songs like Your Dumb, an anthem against bosses and anyone else that “makes you feel a have not.” Paddy’s housing insecurity inspired him to zoom out and see the broad injustice of oppression, seen in (my personal favorite track) Bad Jackets. This album is more collaborative than ever. Brady, who anchors the band from his battleship drum kit, weighs in on his experience as of late: “I have never played in a band that writes so smoothly… songs just click.” With each song a riff was born and guided into maturity by the whole band, from its first infant practice, to its teenage demo, and finally its adulthood on the record. Sonically you can hear that five different people were creating songs together. There is a heavy southern rock flare, evident inspiration from Irish traditional music, and even atmospheres of artists like Woody Guthrie. But there is no clash of ideas, no animosity between the band, nothing but sheer respect and eager agreement.
My standout track for this album is the previously mentioned “Bad Jackets”. The track is absolutely pumping with anthemic adrenaline. The guitars are everything you want in a great rock song, driving over powerful drums and bass with the keyboards sweetening everything up. The lyrics are a straightforward call to action against the forces that have suffocated the lyricists. This song is a prime example of the age old adage, “four chords and the truth.” Simply put, this is a punk anthem. The following two tracks, “Disparaging the Boot is a Bootable Offense” and “Disco Beef”, are equally anthemic, with the first offering a perfectly shout-able chorus, and the second being just pop enough to get even the biggest heavy metal curmudgeon dancing.
Another eye catcher was the opening track “Regulize Komplete”, which absolutely threw me off in the best way possible. Like a speed-ridden Chuck Berry, the group jumps into a blues inspired rock bop with the core-connecting line, “Goddamn I’m working all the time.” This song shows the band’s ability to connect artful words and instrumentation with “the need to say something vulgar.” Punk rock summed. Featuring on the last album, newly full time member Ramón more than pulls his weight on the keys with this one. It adds a dynamic and energetic feel that provides more danceability. The decision to add him into the band comes from a fundamental band belief that at its core, AJM is friends playing music together. I found there to be a palpable love and respect in the room in which I met with the band.
Walking home from the interview with headphones in, I was once again putting on the new album and I noticed the connection. There was something, a level of unity sonically, lyrically, emotionally. This is an album of love, of togetherness, the world is hitting you but your best friends are right behind to catch you before you ever hit the floor. An at-ease knowledge that no matter how hard it is dealt, you are not the only one staying in. Paddy added that one of his biggest driving factors while writing this album was seeing his “best friend in the world (Ripley) struggle.” If that does not merit a listen I do not know what will. As you pop in your headphones and begin the record, think about your friends, your best friend, and think about unity.
Make sure to keep up with their social media for upcoming shows as well as their album release show. I would like to end with the words Ripley left me; “Start a union! There is no job too small… if you think you are happy at your job, you could be happier. Start a fucking union!”
