Jar’d Loose

Turns 13

BY Aaron J. MarkoPublished May 23, 2014

8
Hold onto your flannel; grunge is back. It's almost too easy to rely on referencing other bands when talking about Jar'd Loose. Treading on '90s material similar to peers like Pissed Jeans and Blacklisters, Turns 13 almost feels like a "How to" guide to angst. While the majority of tracks, like "Summer of Lung" and "Turning 13," draw from the well of Sub Pop/Touch & Go-era noise rock, "The Yarn Store" plays with hardcore and "Isthmus" sounds like a sloppier version of Guns N' Roses' "Used To Love Her," of all things.

The band is extremely capable, and though they wear their influences on their sleeves, one could hardly accuse them of slavish imitation. Jar'd Loose hits certain notes just right, notes that will surely resonate with ne'er-do-wells everywhere. The weakest link in the foursome is vocalist Eddie Gobbo, whose delivery leaves something to be desired.

Shrieking like an unhinged wild man, Gobbo can be an acquired taste as he caterwauls about being an adult atop dirty riffs. However, for those willing to look past the shrill vocals and all-too-familiar chord progressions, Jar'd Loose will be a welcome antidote to sterile overproduction and regular bathing.
(The Path Less Traveled Records/Threshold of Pain records)

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