We Were Promised Jetpacks - Unravelling

We Were Promised Jetpacks

Unravelling

6 October 2014

FatCat

 

3.5 stars out of 5

 

 

Scottish indie rockers We Were Promised Jetpacks have recently issued their third LP, Unravelling. Occupying musical terrain somewhere between Frightened Rabbit and British Sea Power, the WeeWeePJs peddle an emotional indie rock that harkens back to the glory days of the post-punk revival of the early ‘00s.

 

Unravelling is a very serviceable selection of introspective, angst-ridden songs. It never reaches any sort of great heights, but it will do in a pinch. Rock music in general has long run its course, and a revival of a revival is definitely going to elicit some tired sighs, but WWPJ were there at the time of the first revival, although in unknown, teenaged form. So as a rather uncritical, unself-aware outing in the rock music park, Unravelling does nothing to offend. It rocks no boats and breaks down no fourth walls. Bland? No. This is good rock music, and Unravelling is right up there with The Afghan Whigs’ Do to the Beast as one of the best rock albums of the year. So take that for what it’s worth, and investigate if you feel that a tired and used up art form might still have some nuggets waiting to be discovered.

 

reviewed by Richard Krueger