The Jazz June – After The Earthquake

I missed out on Kutztown, Pennsylvania emo act The Jazz June the first time around, so news of their impending reunion fell on deaf ears for me.  All I knew was that they were apparently a pretty big deal in the late 90’s and that they were back for a split with Dikembe.  Being familiar with the elements of Dikembe’s sound, I had assumed that they were going to be of a similar style, so I was shocked at how different The Jazz June was from their modern counterparts.

Oddly enough, The Jazz June feels very much a product of the 90’s, even if combing through their previous work yields a more contemporary, fractured and experimental type sounds than their present state.  Their brand new reunion record, After The Earthquake, is a remarkably easy listen.  Gone are many of their prickly, angular riffs (their guitar still has bite when they need it) – the type you’d expect from present day You Blew It – in favour of calmer, conventional songwriting with more in common with the likes of Jimmy Eat World.  It’s an odd but welcome choice considering how homogenous and oversaturated the present emo “revival” scene has become.

While fans might at first accuse The Jazz June of dulling their blade, After The Earthquake still showcases a band keen on tight musicianship and emotional deliverance.  A track like “Ain’t It Strange” remains every bit as emotionally in tune with Andrew Low’s heavy hearted expression in lines like, “because I loved you in the evening but now I can’t promise you, and all the plans we made are slowly falling through.”  Such moments become every bit as easy to tap your foot along to as emphasize with.  The real shocker is perhaps the catchiness of tunes like “Nothing To See Here,” which with a little imagination sound like a collaboration between Bob Mould and The American Scene.  

Take for instance how Low channels a slow burning, controlled demeanor mirrored in the title track’s thumping bass.  This shouldn’t be confused with The Jazz June sounding bored or complacent.  Rather, Low feels in control – even self restrained.  If it does feel as if he’s holding back from time to time, that doesn’t stop songs like “It Came Back” from playing out ripe with the gravity of sing along moments.

With After The Earthquake, The Jazz June’s “emo” tag has morphed into more of a suggestion than a definitive category.  That seven years have passed since their latest album couldn’t be clearer in how The Jazz June has matured along with its members and audience.  Returning after a lengthy absence is always a challenge, but by forging a new path The Jazz June skirt the inevitable comparisons with their back catalogue, and thrive in the process.