I think that the best way to listen to these guys is to jump in the pool already with the ability to swim. If you press the play button on this one without the desire to have fun, you’re going to feel like a designated driver at an Irish pub on St. Patrick’s Day.
“These are the voices in my head” is what the light bulb above told me as I cruised through this album. The New Jerseys have an eclectic, mostly folk-inspired sound that is smacked around by their truly despicable humor that can be appreciated mostly by those of us who have already confirmed their seat in Hell.
Just as Buffalo Bill demonstrated “coveting what we see every day” in Silence of the Lambs, the New Jerseys have given us 21 tracks describing what they see from their Morris County porch. The New Jerseys consist of two guys, Daddy P and Steve, from the Garden State.
First impressions are not always the best. It was as if their book had the wrong jacket on it. When I first hit the play button, I scanned the two titles that were more “in your face” than the rest, and I don’t think I was ready for all of it at once. I thought it was a hokey attempt at Tenacious D. As I dug deeper, I found them to be a lot of fun.
Musically, they pull from multiple influences. On the surface, I heard remnants of artists such as the Dead Milkmen, REM and Wesley Willis. The vocals can sometimes dip to the throatiness of Crash Test Dummies’ “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” song from the dreaded 90’s, but mostly on tracks that really call for bowels of hell throaty vocals like “Your Girlfriend’s Tittie” or “ Fuck You (in the ass)”. These two fellas apply a lot of late 50’s – early 60’s rhythm to their tracks, which is always a treat.
A lot of times, I try to imagine seeing a band live to see how it might translate as most bands are best served al dente. I think that the best way to experience Daddy P and Steve would be to fall through a secret door into a practice session they may have been having in the back room of a bar after having ordered a round of whiskey drinks.
I would give these guys three exits on the Jersey Turnpike. For once, I’ll take the local.
Please be sure to visit their online store and order your sweetie a belated Christmas gift in the form of a New Jerseys’ thong. They’re the hottest post-Holiday seller.