Welcome to; Radlands, the fourth album from Mystery Jets. Written and recorded away from their home comforts, at a remote location in Austin Texas (see trailer here).
The album’s title track opens the show and is instantly more guitar based than their previous release; Serotonin, which featured a lot of 80′s style synth. Taking its name from the famous line in Jerry Maguire; You Had Me At Hello boasts an adventurous baseline and the Americana influence takes form through the introduction of Harmonica, a first for the Jets.
An early confessional arises in Someone Purer. Creating tension and bearing some of the woes dwelling the boy’s minds. “Won’t you take me down to the creek? Wash away our sins and sleep, I feel so tired as though I might not wake at all on the other side”.
Greatest Hits seems like a nostalgic retrospective on the bands previous achievements, while the lyrics suggest it’s really reminiscing about a love lost but never forgotten, leading un-expectedly into The Hale Bob, that sounds like it could easily be taken from Jesus Christ Superstar.
Sister Everett is named after a nun that tried to convert singer-guitarist Blaine Harrison on the plane to Texas. Aptly accommodating heavy organ sounds and a choir to finish.
Track-name aside, Lost in Austin strangely loses the newly acquired American twang and takes up an almost Brit-pop character, including building choruses, thrashing guitars and punchy drums.
The Jets have matured so much as a band and this overall downbeat record is the perfect example of their progress. A fine album.
