
Jeremy & the Harlequins – The Whiskey Shake
“Whiskey, you’re the devil, and you’re leading me astray.” Shane MacGowan sang these words and made them sound as if he was talking about an ancient remedy that he’d happened to stumble upon. Many other singers shared his opinion. Hard liquor usually appears in pop songs only to provide answers, to share wisdom, and to sharpen the mind and body.
You’d think that they were talking about green tea. A more accurate description might involve tales of falling asleep in ditches and waking up in the branches of a tree. It should include recollections of mumbling your words so badly that you nearly convinced yourself you were talking a foreign language. And, of course, the disaster of it all ought to be married to a bit of humor.
Jeremy & the Harlequins know a good joke when they hear one and an indie-rock sound that could get them on par with the requirements of the times. “The Whiskey Shake” is a song about losing yourself to the demon of alcohol. But it’s marvelously charming, with vocals highly reminiscent of Arctic Monkeys’ Alex Turner and possessing a groove that brings to mind the image of a drunk stumbling on his feet to a well-timed rhythm. Jeremy & the Harlequins have a catchy single on their hands.
Painted Pillars – Juvenile
Don’t be too afraid of all the political extremists wandering onto the stage. They’ll soon be gone and leave little behind apart from a few sinister speeches. That’s what happened to the ones before them. How do I know? They have no humor apart from involuntary ridiculousness. They’re bland, ominous sounding. And anyone gets bored of hearing someone who can’t lay down a joke.
You’ll be treated to a lot of professional sports this Summer if you happen to still own a television. And, no doubt, you’ll be told about the discipline that these athletes have and how this is the secret to getting where they’re at. But nobody talks about how much discipline it takes to never want to grow up. And, frankly, we need more of that than silly records being broken.
Painted Pillars believe in one thing that’s stunted mental growth. They prove this with “Juvenile,” their energy-filled, indie-rock Dutch ode to never becoming an adult. And that may just be a genius move on their part. There ain’t much to look forward to once you’re old enough to dress yourself and fill out the election ballot. On the other hand, by the sounds of it, Painted Pillar have a lifetime of adventure ahead of them. Who should you envy, really?