Be Slowly // Jaws - Album Review

Band: Jaws
Album: Be Slowly
Released: 2014
Label: Rattlepop Records
Genre: Surf Pop, Beach Pop, Indie Rock
Score: 7.5/10

Jaws are yet another band from the new 'buzz town' of new 'indie' music that's produced bands such as Peace, Swim Deep and Superfood - Birmingham.

'Be Slowly' is their debut full length release following up from their 2013 EP Milkshake and sees a widening of the bands influences, with elements of The Cure - the title track of the album sounding like a riff from 'Just Like Heaven' and even having elements of the recent trend in 90s alt rock and grunge such as in 'Filth'. However, their core sound remains the same: reverb soaked guitar leads; driving bass lines and front-man Connor Schofield's slacker-sounding vocals.

The lead singles off of this LP have hinted at an expansion of the band's sound and stylistic influences. 'Gold' being the most upbeat of all and possibly the most frantic and one of the highlights of the album overall and presents a nice contrast to the first two opening tracks of this LP, which do take the more mellow route; much like the band's second most recent single and B side opener 'Think too much, Feel too little'.

However, Connor's vocals where the band do falter a bit. The fact is, they aren't going to be to everyone's taste as they do not have many complicated melody lines to them. However, I personally don't find them to be a problem. Not only this, but the closing track 'NYE' does not bring a closing to the album that ties off all the lose ends or brings a big crescendo ending to make the album memorable, it all seems a bit tame. Having said that, it does show a contrast in feel to both sides of the record, Side A being the more upbeat, energetic half, whereas Side B is more tame, lazy (in the best way possible) and relaxed - despite 'Filth' being the heaviest song on the album.

At it's peak this album is fantastic surf pop: Connor's apathetic sounding vocals, as well as Alex Hudson's reverb drenched guitar hooks and the back up vocals in the background conjure up images of summer on the coast - surprising for a Birmingham band. Home is also able to marry the new stylistic influences Jaws have had on the record with their tried and tested surf pop sound - which could be a possible hint to their future releases?

Overall, This is a great album, achieving a good slacker surf pop vibe to it, but also able to have good single material to be radio worthy and enough to keep a crowd interested when they play live. What issues I have with this record are minor and are overshadowed by the positives.

But it's just an opinion, right? If you have any recommendations for songs, albums or eps for me to review, let me know!