Jack Shields & the Mojave Rush – Feel
Talent is always worth waiting for. But that’s something which those in charge of providing us with entertainment broadcast on a global scale these days seem to forget, anxious to write off some of the expenses of hiring gifted, but moody artists.
The days of simply providing a creative person with whatever they demand in the hope that they’ll come back with something remarkable seem to have gone. But once the aforementioned corporations do a quick rundown of costs with their armies of songwriters, producers, or use of AI, they might want to wish the good old days to return.
Jack Shields & the Mojave Rush’s retro alt-rock of “Feel” is a reminder of two very uncomfortable, but undeniable truths. First of all, it’s nice to be alive, and feeling some discomfort once in a while is part of the experience. That’s well captured by this grunge song that is structured as well as a Top 40 pop ditty.
Secondly, it’s important that we still get boots on the field, artists who can seek out experiences, get hurt, and pour their lessons into their work. It’s the only way that we can learn and one of the only things that makes entertainment important.
the Dahmers – Nightmare of ’78
Everyone knows where you need to go if you’re looking for great American rock n’ roll done the old-school way – Sweden, of course. The Swedes have a knack at re-crafting an ubercool reality that’s all leather jackets, muscle cars and stories that may have never quite existed like that. The U.S. is the muse of Nordic musicians who, unlike their counterparts from across the ocean, are not depressed by political hardships or cynical.
The Dahmers want to add their name to the big list of Swedish garage-rockers and have found the perfect occasion in which to launch their bid, namely Halloween.
And this isn’t any kind of cosplay either. Where bands like The Stooges or MC5 echoed the tension of the Detroit streets with their one-two punch power chord anthems, The Dahmers are into hardcore fantasy.
But it’s also easy on the ears. “Nightmare of ‘78” strikes up a good tone, finding the right balance between campy and evil-sounding, delivering hooks and coming prepared with just the right kind of production to make you a believer in the potential of modern Swedish rock.
