Joggers abandon convention
By Jeff Renfro
Piling together a disparate collection of influences and creating a unique sound of their own, the debut album from The Joggers, "With a Cape and a Cane," is a jarring, experimental music experience. What's more, it might also be the catchiest collection of songs to come out in years.
The Joggers come out of the burgeoning Portland indie scene, but defy all of the rules set by their predecessors. However, a trip to the Web site can be misleading. Clearly, it is not professionally made and makes the band look like a bunch of mustached-clowns. It also draws attention away from the technical proficiency of the band.
The Joggers' song structure goes against convention. The first listen can be disorienting when it seems that the group is upending expectation with every note. Every timing change is unexpected; even each instrument's entrance into a song is unconventional. "Ziggurat Traffic," the album's opening track, is a perfect example. The song begins with a few seconds of feedback, which is interrupted by an Arabic version of a rock riff. The guitar is heavily distorted, which makes it sound more like an electric sitar. Moving things along, the guitar carries the song at a slow pace until the drums take over with a post-punk beat. The sounds could not clash more, but the result is amazing. The song slows and quickens without warning, and lets the listener know that this is not an ordinary band.
"Wicked Tight Sleeper" is the standout track on the album. The drums and bass have a funk sound accompanied by a guitar line that distorts your conventional sounding riff into something closer to a drum snare. Next, the bass takes over, with a melody that sounds more like piano. The song marches through two-thirds, before shifting back into the bass line, drawing the song to a conclusion.
Several of the songs feature a dueling guitar technique that pushes them in interesting, provocative directions. "Horny Ghost" uses the dueling guitars to perfection. At times, it seems that the two guitars are playing different songs, battling each other for dominance.
But then, at strange times, they come together and compliment each other.
If there are any weakness in the album, it is in the lyrics. For the most part, they are intentionally strange and obscure. They do little to add any sort of depth to the songs, but it does not hurt the album much. The rhythm of the vocals is enough to work with the song, despite what the actual words are.
This impossibly catchy album, if given a chance, will be running through your head for weeks.
Grade: A-