The Jakes, “This Is…The Jakes” (4.5/5)

Pop riffs and synth beats with stylized vocals are what welcomes the listener on the first track off of This Is…The Jakes. The opening song, their single “Whatcha Gonna Say,” is an upbeat and radio-ready hit, and what I consider to be a perfect introduction to any pop-rock album. The rest of the album follows suit similar to the first track, but gives a nice blend of poppy hits transitioning into songs that have definite indie influences. The Jakes also have a few tracks that are just plain fun and easy to listen to, like “Sycamore Street,” which at times slightly reminds me of songs by The Beach Boys.

It’s not unheard of in our current music scene to see younger bands that sound just as impressive as bands in their 30s, but it isn’t as frequently that you find a band that does that really well. Being a younger band from Orange County, The Jakes manage to sound like a band that takes so much from all eras and kinds of music that it wouldn’t surprise me if this album could appeal to quite a wide crowd of listeners. Their range can be accredited to the following: the vocalist’s way of singing (which is very reminiscent of many vocalists of the 60s), the groove-type riffs the guitars lay down, and the synth dance beats alongside soft piano melodies.

I found my favorite song to be “Sycamore Street” because it had an intro with a hook, and it’s hard to not imagine that a crowd wouldn’t sing along to the catchy sound of this track. This track is also where I think the vocals are the strongest. The music gives off a feel to me as if the song’s seasons are changing from summertime flings to the end of a romance in fall with the following lyrics: “This is where the red wine gets thick / the stuff of dreams / forgetting seams / unstitched and re-stitched on Sycamore.”

As the album comes to a close with the song “Lullaby,” the music winds down and I am presented with nothing but a good mindset. This album left me with both upbeat and chilled out feelings, alongside a desire to know their songs by heart and hopefully someday see them live. I’m definitely looking forward to see what new songs they’ll dish out in the future.

Favorite Track: Sycamore Street



Reviewed by: Olivia