The Jaded – Juke

Ever wonder what happened to the wonderful sound of  80′s hard rock? Well, if you’re anything like me (who grew up loving the late 70′s and 80′s hair metal), you would be wondering just that. Well, have I got some good news for those seeking a sound that delivers slow to medium tempo-ed, guitar heavy music. There is no need to look any further because The Jaded delivers just this! You can definitely hear the influence from such bands as Van Halen, Motley Crue and Aerosmith but they do a great job of incorporating their own modern spin on this classic music to create a sound of their own.

The Jaded was formed in 2011, in the San Francisco Bay area with the hopes of bringing back the sounds of hard rock from the 60′s through the 80′s, adding a modern and unique spin to it. Their debut EP Juke delivers exactly what they set out to do. The first song, “Life of Crime” sets the pace for the album with incredible riffing and a catchy chorus. Keeping with their quest to resurrect the sounds of hard rock in the 60′s through the 80′s, you will find some incredible guitar solos along with the drums and bass driving rhythm.

The second song “Dust to Dust,” bears a striking resemblance to Nazareth’s “Hair of the Dog” in the intro with the usage of the cowbell, but then takes a totally different direction. The vibe given at the beginning of the EP continues throughout the album, giving the listener a taste of classic hard rock and glam metal with a certain modern flair that will bring both ‘old school metal heads and the younger generation together. Be prepared to hear some extraordinary guitar solos that will take you back in time to when the guitarists actually conveyed the emotion of the song through these solos.

Following this song is “Without You,” which once again starts off with a noticeable likeness to another song (possibly by Motley Crue), though I can’t put my finger on exactly what song it is. This can be found quite often in music, especially when bands have such strong influences. The Jaded does an incredible job of putting enough originality in their music to justify the occasional likeness to these influences.

Be prepared to be amazed by the beginning ‘riffage’ of the fourth song on the EP, “Honey Bear.” (You may even have to restart this song a few times because it is THAT incredible.) The start of this song has a funky blues feel to it with a strong Red Hot Chili Pepper vibe throughout. “Bust My Buffer” is the fifth song of the album and brings yet another slightly different sound, which creates a non-repetitive but cohesive sounding album. The final song on the EP is “Broken Records,” which combines some unexpected and astonishing solos with a euphoric vibe half way through the song, much the vibe experienced while listening to The Doors.

The Jaded is a breath of fresh air for the Hard Rock genre. Unfortunately, a lot of new bands rely too much on their influences resulting in music that sounds too much like the already popular tunes that are overplayed on any Rock radio station. Juke exemplifies the perfect combination between the band’s influences and their own original sound. Lit lighters waving in the air can be envisioned while listening to Juke. So, turn it on, turn it up and ROCK OUT!

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars!

Album Name: Juke
Date Released: March, 2012
Genre(s): Rock
Location: San Francisco, CA
Band Members: Downey Orrick – Lead Guitar/Background Vocals
Elliott Starno – Drums and Percussion
Jimmy Steal – Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
Matt Notter – Bass Guitar
Record Label: Interscope Digital Distribution
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thejaded
Reverbnation: http://www.reverbnation.com/TheJaded

About Nikki Maiden

Always on the lookout for that "sumthin" special... I crave originality and strive to find unique qualities in music... I support the Underground Scene 120% and then some. Remember to always stay true to YOU, YOU are the only one capable of doing so :)

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