REVIEW: Jel, Too Much Imagination (Smoove)
- Bill Holmes
It's not easy to break a band these days. Jel's press kit highlights the fact that eleven bands contributed to the formation of this quintet. Excuse me? Hell, I've been in seven myself. (Well, eleven good bands might have been impressive. Maybe that's why they don't send bios to the fans who buy the records.) They are also billed as a power pop band; in fairness, Jel does sustain several vocal moments that make me think of Glenn Tilbrook (Squeeze) or the introspective side of ex-Caulfields singer John Faye. And musically, the leadoff track "What Kind Of Mood" starts out with the right pop song elements, even after some whip-cracking guitars come in to light the fires.
But "power-pop" means bands like Badfinger, Raspberries or even Cheap Trick; many of these songs are a lot heavier and sound more like Dada than Big Star. And that's fine - Dada kicks ass, and the Flea-like sonics that bass player Tony Germinario cooks up on "Dreams" (the first single) and "Get In Line" are appropriately propulsive. "Paint" is pretty funky, and Jeff Katz contributes some strong guitar licks.
But Jel sometimes falls into that angst-ridden territory where bands like Live.er, live. The drummer overplays, the guitars ring like Metallica, and Preston moans loudly about pretentious nonsense. (Why bands feel the need to record turgid slabs of overbearing crap -here "Suburban Legend" answers the call - is beyond me. But I'll bet other reviews highlight this track as "intense".) Vocalist Jeff Preston sounds like three different people on Too Much Imagination. When Jel rips through melodic rock material, the Tilbrook/Jude Cole comparisons are apt. Acoustic tracks (and "Long Green Hair" and "Renew" are the best songs on the record) suit Preston best; his voice commands the material and the band is powerful but restrained.
I must admit I miss bands like Toad The Wet Sprocket, and if Jel had an inkling to focus in that direction they'd be as good or better. They flash the lyrical chops ("More A Mystery", "Renew") that could separate themselves from the alterna-wannabe pack. I think Too Much Imagination has many strengths, but I'm not sure which is the wolf and which is the sheep's clothing. (http://www.jelbait.com)
