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Reviews: The Jupiter Deluxe ~ Self-Titled
Posted on Saturday, May 03, 2008 @ 16:43:09 PDT
Topic: Reviews
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Artist: The Jupiter Deluxe
CD: Self-Titled
Home: Brooklyn, New York
Style: Rock
Quote: "The Jupiter Deluxe’s simple formula is a winning combination of memorable melodies, lotsa loud guitars, and passionate singing."
By Dan MacIntosh
As soon as “Bachata Rosa” blasts out of the speakers, just two songs into The Jupiter Deluxe’s self-titled EP, it’s hard not to breathe a large sigh of relief and say, “At long last, an honest to goodness rock & roll record.” That's because this Brooklyn band lets loose with pure rock joy during these five quick tracks.
Vocalist Mark Rinzel hearkens back to Cheap Trick’s Robin Zander, who knows well how to make a rock & roll scream sound melodic. The group even has the guts to take on Ray Charles’ “I Got a Woman." But instead of the gospel-meets-soul, which drives Brother Ray’s original version, The Jupiter Deluxe turn it into a garage rock rave-up. And rather than hearing Charles pound the piano, Rinzel throws his raspy voice all over a wall of noisy guitars.
This group also writes its own fine songs as well. “Sleazy Thieves” is a slow-burner, which incorporates a bit of a majestic quality into crunching rock. Like “Sleazy Thieves," “Koreatown” deals with lusty sex. Only this time these feelings are expressed in a far more positive way.
Rinzel’s voice brings back fond memories of Cheap Trick again and again, but whereas that Chicago band mostly channeled a whole lot of The Beatles, The Jupiter Deluxe has bit of blues rock running through its veins. Even so, the wordless vocal harmonies that introduce “Bachata Rosa” are straight out of The Beatles' early records.
This disc’s opening song, “Faceplant," is the most unrepresentative track on the EP. It’s filled with words of encouragement, such as: “It don’t make a difference if you fall on your face, only if you finish what you first begun.” This musical pep talk differs markedly from the passionate sex talk comprising much of this CD, yet it's a nice change.
Seinfeld's George Costanza once complained about rock stars and their complicated shoes. And while I’m not certain musicians’ footwear is any more complex than the average citizen’s, there are artists in the music business who spoil rock’s beautiful simplicity by incorporating too many unnecessary embellishments. The Jupiter Deluxe is like a basic, but highly comfortable, set of sneakers. These five songs may remind you why you fell in love with rock & roll in the first place. Not because it is nerdy scientist smart, but because it hits a primal pleasure center that nothing else can quite reach. The Jupiter Deluxe’s simple formula is a winning combination of memorable melodies, lotsa loud guitars, and passionate singing. These boots were made for good rockin’, that’s for sure.
Artist Website: http://www.jupiterdeluxe.com
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