Music Monday with PLC is a weekly feature written by my husband, Pat.
Find out the back story + check out the full archives HERE .
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The Jezabels : Prisoner
[photo by jennifer; review by pat]
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It was the week of the big football game back in high school, and apparently the organizers decided that nothing would psych-up a thousand some Catholic school boys more than seeing one of their own wrestle a huge black bear. And so, during the middle of the rally, in comes a very muzzled, very woozy looking “Ceasar” wearing the rivals colors. The biggest football player then stepped into the middle of the gym to “wrestle” Ceasar the Bear. What followed was about ten minutes of watching what appeared to be this football player slow dancing with a big-boned, fur-coat wearing, slightly wine-coolered prom date. I found myself rooting for the bear, and the unfortunate predicament he found himself in. I am not sure what bears do all day, but this is probably on the no-fly list. I don’t quite understand this need for some people to go up to wild animals and “wrestle” them. I mean crikey, Steve, that crocodile seems to be doing just fine without you running over there to grapple with him. And then by throwing the camera into the mix and filming the whole thing, it is like “Punk’d - Wild Kingdom.” I don’t know, maybe some guys are just wired that way? Or maybe it is an Australian thing? By the way, we lost the big game. And years later, Ceasar’s owner died in the midst of a bizarre misadventure of a "personal" nature. Just saying.
The Jezabels are a great group out of Sydney, Australia that recently put out a solid debut album called Prisoner (Waterfront Records). They are a four piece (2 girls + 2 guys) rocking in The Doors mode: singer, drums, guitar, piano/keyboards. They describe their genre as “intensindie” - and I would agree with that; you judge for yourself.
Here is a their video for the song “City Girl” -
The sound seems rooted in guitar effecty, keyboardy English indie 80‘s music updated for these times. Many adjectives come to mind: cinematic, atmospheric, rhythmic and moody. This format is great because the guitar and piano always stay in the mix, but it allows either the piano or guitar to take the lead in certain parts of the song, thus totally changing the feel. Add to this drumming and percussion that always keep the song moving, but wisely follows the band’s aesthetic of “what you don’t play is just as important as what you do play.” And last but certainly not least, say hello to Hayley Mary, the Jezabels lead singer/front-woman. She can croon-it or belt-it with the best of them. Dynamite.
Every great band needs a summer song, so check out their song “Endless Summer” live in London -
You have already worn out that Florence and The Machine album of yours, so give The Jezabels’ Prisoner a spin. You will be glad you did.
And here's to a great 2013.
- PLC
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MORE:
- last time - Glen Campbell
- last season - David Byrne & St. Vincent
- last year - Smoking Popes
- full archive of Music Monday with PLC - HERE
