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Not all “supergroups” are created equal.
As intriguing as they may look on paper, most of them end up sounding like disparate puzzle pieces jammed together in ways that either completely fail to meet expectations or drive listeners to hit their record collections to dig out reminders of the participants’ brighter moments from past endeavors. With First Thought, the members of Astral Jets — whose respective résumés include time spent in Black Flag, The Screamers, 45 Grave, Claw Hammer, Backbiter, and The Angry Samoans, among other heavyweight acts — have excelled at the rarely achieved task of creating a collaborative effort that stands on its own while adding new colors to five already accomplished music careers.
So, what does this quintet of well-traveled punk elites sound like? Think Hawkwind meets the Jayhawks — more of a Roots Rock bar band from Mars than a group ready to hit the stage at Gilman. With a soulful delivery that falls somewhere between Neil Young and Roky Erickson, singer/guitarist Jonathan Hall elevates the gorgeous ballad “Unite and Transcend” and a simultaneously soul-crushing and life-affirming rendition of Backbiter’s “Red Sun” to instant-classic status. Collectively, the musicians demonstrate the level of natural talent, discipline, and decades of hard-earned experience necessary to understand the value of putting spotlight-seeking histrionics aside in favor of best serving the song at hand. In his additional role as producer, keyboardist Paul Roessler brings a magic touch that provides each member the space to shine without overshadowing anyone else.
The album concludes with a triple shot of covers: The Screamers’ “Punish or Be Damned,” Flipper’s “Way of the World,” and The Small Faces’ “Afterglow” (with drummer Bob Lee taking over lead vocals on the first two). The band’s interpretation of the Screamers’ track is the least conventional of the three, with guitars taking center stage over the original's keyboard-drenched dissonance.
While “featuring members of …” will always catch the attention of fans and music writers, Astral Jets is one of the very few outfits of this nature that has what it takes to stand and deliver on its own merits. This isn’t Black Flag meets The Screamers meets The Angry Samoans meets Claw Hammer. This is Astral Jets — and that’s more than enough to blow people’s minds.
A perfect debut from a perfect band.
Check out Joel Gausten's interview with Dez, Bob, and Heath from Astral Jets below — and be sure to catch Bob and Dez on the New York Hardcore Chronicles Live! on April 30! (Info. posted below the video.)
