Jets to Brazil - Orange Rhyming Dictionary
Track Listing
"Crown of the Valley" – 4:55
"Morning New Disease" – 4:16
"Resistance Is Futile" – 3:00
"Starry Configurations" – 4:03
"Chinatown" – 5:35
"Sea Anemone" – 5:20
"Lemon Yellow Black" – 4:02
"Conrad" – 4:58
"King Medicine" – 5:42
"I Typed for Miles" – 5:33
"Sweet Avenue" – 5:16
Background:
This is the debut album for Jets To Brazil, released in 1998. I actually thought Jets to Brazil was an early 90s band before exploring them more. Lead singer Blake Schwarzenbach sang in the punk rock band Jawbreaker from 1988-1996 before forming Jets to Brazil. They released 3 albums and disbanded in 2003.
Thoughts
The album opens with
Crown of the Valley which sounds like a mixture between soft rock and alternative with a touch of a punk-rock element. It sounds very Jawbreaker-esque to me, which makes sense. Way more "rock" than I anticipated but not to be confused with anything hard.
Until the fourth song,
Starry Configurations, the album seems very 90's alternative rock. Then it switches to a bit of a slower, more melodic tune.
Quote:
dear infatuation, you do not see me
die here beside you in see-through obscurity
governess, fancy less, we'll sound the alarm
and drum up some simpleton for you
to eat these apples from your eyes
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Longing for the girl, a bit of a superiority complex. Not quite understanding why she wants someone else who is unworthy. The song picks up right at the end of those lyrics into a more aggressive tone.
Chinatown
Chinatown has a really Smashing Pumpkins vibe to it musically with the bass line. I really enjoy it and I will disclose I love the Smashing Pumpkins. It's simple and to me gives the thoughts of being exhausted and indulging in apathy.
Quote:
I'm tired of fighting, so I'm demolished - that's the way
some make exhaustion a mode of expression and that's their way
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Sea Anemone is next and it's the first song featuring the 'emo' style I was expecting from more songs. It's a depressing and slow tune with great visual and metaphorical lyrics.
Quote:
turtle on its back in the desert sea
and you look like a cool drink
just slightly out of reach
draw myself into the shell
waiting on a sign from god
or a nod from hell
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Really one of my favorite songs on this album. It seems like it's talking about getting married, not being able to live up to expectations, contemplating suicide, self-disapointment, all through a somewhat sarcastic tone (gee it feels nice sitting here alone) and the last 4 lines hint towards a brighter tomorrow accompanied by an uplifting change in the music.
Quote:
now we're turning on the lights
it's the first day of my second life
take my name off of the lease
you can even keep the name it never suited me
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Conrad has a distinctively different sound with a more prominent bass line throughout. A story about a suicide in a hotel bathroom, but the musical accompanying the lyrics doesn't match. Much like a Third Eye Blind song where the music might fool you if you aren't really hearing the lyrics. I wonder if the lyrics are a commentary on the person's morality of life or their personal character. The song ends on a note that gives me that vibe... should they be spared? Are they worthy? Lots of self-deprecation in this album so far.
Quote:
angels lay their odds on you
know not quite what they should do
only that they can't quite tear themselves from the view
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I Typed for Miles is the second to last track and I defy anyone to listen without immediately thinking it's Nirvana's Heart Shaped Box. Another incredibly self-deprecating tune with lyrics like "note to self: no once cares, your voice is average". I didn't really connect with a deeper meaning. The last line says
Quote:
"they're playing love songs on your radio tonight
I don't get those songs on mine
you keep ****ing up my life
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but I'm not so sure what he refers to. The song reeks of self-pity and wallow of a man secluded. The aggression comes through in the last few lines which he screams several times. Part of me thinks he is just referring to his own vices, whatever they may be. It's not so clear.
Sweet Avenue
The last song on Orange Rhyming Dictionary,
Sweet Avenue, was the first song I heard by Jets To Brazil and led me to want to explore more of them. It is by far the most different song on the album and was surprisingly to me not a good indicator of what I would find throughout the rest of the album. Its a classic love song and maybe that's why it ends the album. Depressive, self-deprecating songs followed by a light at the end of the tunnel. An optimism going forward?
Sweet Avenue has tons of imagery and is an incredible mix of metaphors that don't come across as overly cheesy, corny, or played out. A lot of focus on the 5 senses in this one and it feels like the rest of the album was a storm and this ending track is the survival of said storm.
TLDR - Much more rock/alternative than I expected. Great lyrics that I found subtle enough but not too obscure and over my head. Blake's nasally voice really appeals to me too. Enjoyable album, I'd give it a 8/10 although it wasn't really what I was looking for.