Gentleman Jesse
Ohmyfuckinggodfinally. Seriously. While we’re not often prone to absurd hyperbole here at Rock Star Journalist, it seems like it’s been forever and a day since they mentioned that there’d be a sophomore release from Gentleman Jesse.
The “She’s A Trap” and “You’ve Got the Wrong Man” singles were released on Douchemaster and Hozac, respectively, at the end of 2010. So, while not officially forever, it’s been damn near a year and half since the sophomore release from the former Carbonas bassist was first mentioned. However, Leaving Atlanta sees release from Douchemaster next Tuesday. While all the split green and white LPs are sold right the fuck out (limited to 100), you can still snag a copy on good old fashioned black from DMR’s site.
Gentleman Jesse & His Men
She’s A Trap
(Douchemaster Records)
Gentleman Jesse & His Men have fast become my favorite modern day garage act. Their power pop goes all the way back to what Greg Shaw and Bomp championed back in the day, and what’d been somewhat swept aside in recent years, as bands like Surfer Blood, Vivian Girls, and a thousand others looked more towards the Beach Boys and Pet Sounds than Jan & Dean or Dion.
It’s nice to see Gentleman Jesse, as well Hunx & His Punx, Nobunny, Personal & the Pizzas, and the like leading a march back to bubblegum melodies, as opposed to the wildly distorted psychedelia that’s become the way to go as of late.
The single’s a-side and titular song is the usual Paul Collins Beat-flavored power pop Gentleman Jesse & His Men perfected on their self-titled release, but the b-side, “I Won’t Say Goodbye,” is where it’s really at on this record. It’s the band slowed down to ballad speed, refusing to let someone go, because they know it’s meant to be. Douchemaster says these tracks are “teasers for what we believe is going to be an ass kickin rock n roll LP.” If this is a taste of what we can expect, I would assume nothing less.