Jacuzzi Boys

Along with Iceage and Chuck Berry, garage punks Jacuzzi Boys are receiving heavy rotation on Iggy Pop's iPod. The Miami, FL band are certainly in good company within the Iggy-approved canon, which evidently tends towards high-energy, captivating acts. Indeed, it inevitably takes a fair bit of charisma for a group like Jacuzzi Boys to stand out amidst the continuing current of garage-rock revivalism. The Boys have thus far managed to maintain a charismatic presence in this ever-blossoming scene, thanks to a great live show, a knack for Nuggets-inspired melodies and a warm swampiness that reflects their Sunshine State home. On their self-titled third LP, the Boys offer more of the acidic garage rock and sunny pop melodies they built their reputation on, while sounding as though they've gained confidence as a recording band. It isn't always easy for garage rock acts to capture the feral energy of live performance, but with Jacuzzi Boys, they've gotten nearly weird enough to pull it off. Heavier tracks like "Rubble" offer sludgy guitars and twitchy, paranoid synths, while the renegade stomp of "Over the Zoom" could soundtrack a psychedelic trek through the Everglades. Though the band's rawness still sometimes feels a bit too regimented, even their worst songs could be described as dismissively enjoyable. Jacuzzi Boys is a fine garage rock record that finds the band exploring several welcome new directions.