Pissed Jeans – Why Love Now (Sub Pop)

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With the traditional musical fuel of politics and politicians being more volatile than ever, for a band as tuned into the moment as Pissed Jeans it must seem like a good time to be punk. But instead of taking aim at traditional targets, Pissed Jeans’ latest record Why Love Now is a self-aware and biting to the last look into the broader social issues of gender, workplace apathy and internet intrusion.

Right off the bat it would be a disservice not to say that in I’m A Man, Pissed Jeans have come out with easily the most interesting and challenging track I’ve heard in a long time. Musically comprising of just pounding drums, the real star of the show is author Lindsay Hunter unleashing a non-stop snarling performance of her erotic poem about sexual tension and power trips in the workplace. It’s the type of thing that sticks in your head for days after listening to it, complete with uncomfortable flashbacks to lines about licking envelopes and coffee creamer. Placed in the midpoint of the album, it’s a jarring break from the sludgy punk and growls either side of it, and an essential listen.

Thematically however it’s simply the most direct representation of many of the threads running through the record. It’s refreshing to hear a punk record not about “The Man” but instead tackling topics ranging from corporate attitudes (Worldwide Marine Asset Financial Analyst) to the absurdity of new-age medicine (Won’t Tell You My Sign).

Frontman Matt Korvette is generally on top form throughout the album, with the slower tracks delivering sardonic and sneering zingers (“Why don’t you rub me with a crystal and heal me with a gem?” , “Arrrgh relationship trouble you tried so hard to avoid! And you haven’t even had kids??”). The vocal highlight however comes from the pacy and speed metal influenced Worldwide Marine Asset Financial Analyst, where the absurdly long job name is screamed again and again until it sounds as meaningless as the title itself really is.

The range of musicality is impressive throughout the record, with a mix of industrial, punk, and stoner metal forming most of the tracks. Combined with the raunchy sarcastic lyrics and the growling vocals it’s a blend that draws plenty of comparisons (not unkindly) with cult Wellington band Head Like A Hole. Guitars are constantly thick and riffing, bass is fuzzed out and the drums are given huge space to fill out the tracks. In places it’s a heavy and sludgy listen, and although enjoyable it can sometimes be to the detriment of the energy of the overall album.

Unusually I found (with the exception of Worldwide Marine Asset Financial Analyst) the second half of the record to be a much tighter and more enjoyable listen, the sarcasm and self-loathing gives way to anger and suddenly it feels like you’re blasting through the tracks, or being blasted, it’s hard to tell by this point! It’s not exactly a criticism, just an observation that its’s the opposite of the norm, where usually the standout tracks in a record are placed on the first side.

Overall though it doesn’t matter much, and it truly feels like Pissed Jeans have come through with something vital here. In a world where information is to the minute, Why Love Now is a fresh and important critique of both aspects of culture we simply take for granted in modern society, and aspects we are still yet to change. It’s an essential listen that will never have you looking at an office watercooler in the same way again.

Zac Fairhall

Click here to listen to I’m A Man from Why Love Now:

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