The Jealous Sound

For years, rumours have circled of an upcoming release from L.A. indie rock quartet the Jealous Sound. In fact, it's been eight years since their previous full-length release. The band's new album, A Gentle Reminder, blasts through with enough true-to-form authenticity to make up for lost time. The band have had a roster of members from such act as Sunny Day Real Estate, Jawbox and Knapsack. For A Gentle Reminder, they opt for a broader sound, in part due to the influence of new bassist Nate Mendel (Foo Fighters and Sunny Day Real Estate). However, the songwriting and rhythmic variations within the album hint of early '90s post-rock influences, specifically "Your Eyes Were Shining." Lyrically, the album is an emotional rollercoaster of life lessons and forgotten dreams delivered by vocalist Blair Shehan's (formerly of Knapsack) signature evocative tone. The album begins with driving force ("Beautiful Morning"), sometimes to an extreme, and the combination of over-production and over-instrumentation give it an element of pop immediacy. A Gentle Reminder is a grandiose presentation of poignant bass hooks and cascading guitar rhythms. Despite its polished sound, elements of earlier influences peek through to provide a beautiful medley of varying, genre-defying sound with a contemporary feel.