The Black Jetts--Bleed Me
Dead Beat 2003
Variety may be the spice of life but there's still little more satisfying in this world than pure, unadultrated rock n' roll done right. It's such a simple proposition on paper, you'd think there would be an endless supply. Unfortunately, that really isn't the case. The good news is this Black Jetts album, Bleed Me, is in fact the rare real deal. It's a thirilling listen.
What you get with the Black Jetts is straight up rock n' roll that is as no-frills as it gets. The New York Dolls/Heartbreakers soil of this sound has been tilled countless times, so it's kind of like working without a net in that the musical proposition is strictly make or break--the stuff is either going to be great or totally flop. That said, the Black Jetts pull it all off more successfully than anyone has in a great long while. The swagger contained in these grooves is beyond confident--these guys know they've got the goods and, accordingly, everything gels effortlessly. The production on Bleed Me suits the band's style perfectly, too--lo-fi and raw but with the level nice and hot.
The songs collected on Bleed Me are 100% great, to boot. From the opener, "Come On," to the white knuckled power of "Howl," on through the band's convincing cover of the Who's "Leaving Here," there isn't a stinker in this bunch. However, even in this superb field of tracks, there is one which does outshine the rest. On "Hangin' Around," the Black Jetts are able to capture the vibe of the classics "So Alone" (Johnny Thunders) and "Open Up And Bleed" (Iggy & The Stooges) in stunning fashion. You'll never get it better than the originals but you'll also be hard pressed to find anyone else around these days that could get it this close. A triumph of a song, to say the least.
Bleed Me is not only one of the most pleasant rock n' roll surprises to come down the pipe recently but flat-out one of the best albums from present times. The Black Jetts have blessed the world with a serious must-have slab of rock n' roll that has the sweet science of it all down pat. Anyone who tells you different is either lying or they just don't know their stuff. Manditory.
Score this CD directly from DEAD BEAT
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