Search - Jetenderpaul :: Presents the Modal Lines

!!!Quirky Lo-fi Pop Music Extravaganza!!!

rick a. | Valdosta, GA | 02/27/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In a generation where music has morphed from alternative rock-and-roll to grunge and then to the more agressive metal hip/hop hybrids dominating the airwaves today, Jetenderpaul may not win any awards on MTV or VH1, but that doesn't mean they don't deserve them. Melding a distinctly lo-fi approach with a Guided By Voices-ish "pop music from another dimension" feel, Jetenderpaul may just be out to save the realm of pop music. Their third full length, "Jetenderpaul Presents the Modal Lines," was described by the band as being their "musical alter ego." It shows the band maturing musically and lyrically since their first two LP's. "Presents the Modal Lines" has much more of a pop feel to it, with Randall Stephens soft voice crooning away over the intruments. Production-wise, the album still has that experimental "recorded-in-a-basement" hissy feel in most of the tracks, but this is in no way detrimental. The strength of the songs are what makes this album stand out the most. The tracks are short, most clocking in slightly over the two-minute mark, but this also is not a problem. One feels that if the tracks were extended, the whole album, as a work of art (which it truly is), would be diminished. The first track, "The Design," almost sounds as if it was lifted straight from "Bee Thousand" (Guided By Voices), with's it's burbling synth strings and high-end vocals. From there it moves straight on into the next track, "A Readjustment," which is probably one of the strongest tracks on the whole disc. Over a background of piano, light drums, and interweaving synth leads, Randall Stephens sadly croons "Say these thing aren't true/Say that we've been coming through/It's all I ever do..." with the "doo doo doo doo" vocals of secondary vocalist Jared Miller. Perfect! By the third track, the bouncy Beach Boys-influenced "Hudson Bay Drive," you're hopelesslyhooked. "Secret of the Day" starts slow, but soon breaks out exuberantly into a catchy chorus laced with spacey sounds effects before handing the microphone to secondary vocalist Miller from almost the whole rest of the song. Miller's voice is very different from Stephen's, but not in a bad way. It's got that cornball good-guy quality that brings to mind a happier J. Mascis (of Dinosaur Jr). "An Old Pamphlet Quote" follows next, with a 50's feel, "la la la la" backing vocals, and it's infectious chorus of "When you're in love/Never mind what you may be missing/When you're in love/All the time hugging and kissing/Did you ever think that there's anything wrong with love?" The standout track, to me, is track 9: "Bonaventure: A Protoype." Starting out with oriental-sounding synths, it then turns into a harmony-laden song about a female robot (maybe?) complete with robotic sound-effects and spaceship noises. Perfect! I could go on for hours about this album. Jetenderpaul presents more pure pop and better-written songs than anything I've heard on the radio on years. Buy this now!"

Astounding in its nakedness...

Dave Puttick | Wallasey, UK | 06/18/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Kicking off like a caveman in New York, this album is astounding in its nakedness. How you can record an album in a tin of sardines I have no idea, but Jetenderpaul pull it off with considerable aplomb, leaving no trace of a fishy smell. Truly a triumph for dancing on George W. Bush's head, "Jetenderpaul Presents The Modal Lines" is like a child running carefree in a cow field, without stepping in any cow pats or even being crushed to death by an out of control bull. Come to think of it, there is something in this album which reminds me of an out of control bull. I don't know what it is, but then, I can't exactly explain why I think of marrows every time I hear it either. If I were to sum this album up in one word, it would be "flibbertygibbet" because, err, I don't know why, it's just an interesting word. This is an interesting album too. The lyrics have been speaking to me of late about pink trees, twisted vines and riots in cities where there are no walls, no rules and the Mayor is a pink and yellow jellyfish. This is music to eat tangerines to, and I salute the eighteen fast-rapping-grizzly bears who made it. In a musical spectrum saturated with slate, this is a breath of fresh tile."