Time to champion a fellow champion of Ska

INDIE MUSIC REVIEW WRITTEN BY JOE COMPTON

JER  

BOTHERED/UNBOTHERED 

(SKA/POP PUNK)

The debut record of original music from Jeremy Hunter, aka JER, aka SKATUNE NETWORK!

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RELEASED May 27, 2022

JER - Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Trombone
Reade Wolcott - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Thiago Trosso - Tenor Sax
Esteban Flores -Keys
Elwood “Woody” Bond - Drums
Doug Perry - Percussion
Jeff Rosenstock - Bari Sax, Keys
David Miller - Trumpet
Elise Okusami - Vocals
Kal The Thot Slayer - Guitar
Carlos Eiene - piano

Produced, Engineered, and Mixed by Reade Wolcott
Mastered by Alex Dobbert at The Hitlab
Artwork by Ben Passmore
Layout by Mike Sosinsk

WHAT THIS ALBUM DOES WELL: There is something comforting about feeling that beautiful horns + long guitar strumming that just makes your feet move and makes your heart beat fast. A standard SKA riff and horn section accompaniment is so unique and very few genres have been able to emulate and incorporate something that is universally a standardized recognition that defines it as a genre. That being said what JER has done has taken that familiar, infused it with a lot of different elements, making it very unique on its own while still paying homage and recognizing the past, present, and future of SKA. Sure there have been others who have "experimented" but none quite with the blending of the true essence ska lovers have always craved and stood behind. Right off the bat Bothered really shows the modernized ska ferocity that bands like Voodoo Glow Skulls, Kill Lincoln, and Less Than Jake brought into the next generation. It's very recognizable and comforting and in doing something as smart as this to open a record, shows how well JER knows how to capture an audience. It's when you sit and down, really absorb it, and read the lyrics or hear them that you realize, there is so much more power in that hook. They present an incredible array of social consciousness, life truths, and awareness for their being and their role in this society. It is there I personally started to think, yes this awesome musically, right up my alley, but damn if I am moved into deep thought or just actualizing self awareness from these incredibly impressive lyrical stanzas. 

Moreover as you reach deeper into the album's middle you start to get subtle strays from the a-typical ska even, still holding the genre strong but anchoring it with those experimental tones and infusing it with other genres (which I just said SKA hardly ever does :) ). All of that is one thing to try and accomplish, to pull it off is another thing entirely. 

In that manner I don't find a miss on this album and in fact as much I LOVE, again, I LOVE the standardized SKA/Pop-Punk anthems on this record, I am gravitating more and more with each listen to those "experimental" tracks like Decolonize Yr Mind , Maybe..., and my favorite song on the entire album You Can Get It If You Really Want.  The really cool thing about these songs in particular is what a homage to music they are. JER is a unique purveyor of tones and an even sharper wit of words and BOTHERED/UNBOTHERED may be one of the best debuts I have heard in decades. It is crisply engineered and sounds pristine with that little essence of the thing we love about SKA and punk...the right amount of dirty. If I didn't know any better or hadn't told you this was a debut, I have no doubts most would think this is a peak middle of the catalog entry. This is a great album, catchy, fun, and thought provoking. All in 10 tracks of masterful craftsmanship. 

WHY CHAMPION THIS ALBUM: If you aren't familiar with JER, they are a champion of Ska. Over the years their YouTube Channel, SKA TUNE NETWORK  has been supporting various SKA bands and their releases. JER themselves is a musician in many capacities with a few SKA bands and a guest contributor to various albums and collections. As a life long SKA fan I really want to shine the light on JER and this album. I know the Interrupters are about to release a huge new album too and while I appreciate how they have taken the torch from the Bosstones and brought SKA into the mainstream consciousness again bands like JER and such a great consortium of Indie Ska are busting their asses and putting out amazing, amazing shit. So if you like to dance (skank or moonstomp) or if you need an injection of music that speaks to the soul then give this album a twirl. Then after a dozen or so listens welcome yourself to, or back too SKA NATION.    

YOU CAN GET BOTHERED/UNBOTHERED HERE 

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