After a groundbreaking debut, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers are back with their second album: GLORY. It is a punchy record that both honours the punk genre and celebrates the benefits of being in a band, as in every song, each musician is equal.
It’s an album you can let loose to, and the opening song ‘WATCHING ME LEAVE’ is similar to the start of the weekend — you have no idea what is about to happen, but you’re pretty sure it will be wild.
The first song is not the strongest on the album (only because of how many hits GLORY has), but it is perfect to get you warmed up. The repeating riff that runs throughout builds an excitement, and the lyrics strengthen the theory that this song is made for a live audience. The band shouts, “Are you in there?” over and over, and combined with the riff, it’s almost impossible to not head bang. The mosh pit would go crazy, and Teen Jesus should open shows with this one for that exact reason.
‘DAYLIGHT’ is a softer song. It’s still punk, but lead singer Anna Ryan takes a more vulnerable tone, which works with this love song. It’s a beautiful concept: “How does someone get prettier in the daylight?”, Ryan asks, baffled at how perfect their lover is, and even more perplexed at the fact they love them back. The guitar and drums have their moment in this song, and they elevate the emotion in Ryan’s voice by bringing an intensity to it. Yet the vocals must be equally celebrated in this song — they are powerful and emotional, switching from belting to tender to borderline-shouting, all whilst making sure each one sounds perfect.
‘MOTHER’ is one of the most listened to songs on the album, and for good reason. The sound is a mix of punk-rock and the wild west. The guitar at the opening builds the tension as though you are at a cowboy stand-off, waiting for a gun to be shot — and when it does, the band are at their peak. Ryan’s vocals, along with Scarlett McKahey’s guitar, Neve van Boxsel’s drums, and Jaida Stephenson’s bass, bring the aggression vital to this song about a man’s betrayal — the band sing “I shall not suffer a holy man’s crusade”, and they do a good job of making us believe them.
Occasionally, the songs on this album sound too similar. Whilst each one is energetic and powerful, they often include the band’s signature shouting, guitar, and booming drums, and even follow similar structures. This is why ‘MOTHER’ stands out. The eerie beginning and building tension is something a bit different.
‘UNSCARRED’ shines for the same reason. Whilst it has their distinct punk sound, it is more relaxed than the songs, and boasts the band’s ability to get emotional. Ryan sings, “I’m done being someone you ignore.”, and you can really feel how, despite all the sadness, they are finally letting them go. Ryan is skilled at portraying emotion in her voice, from vulnerability, to anger, to sadness, and this tune allows their vocals to shine.
Overall, GLORY is a solid punk album. Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers wear their heart on their sleeve, but they do it with energy and power. They prove that in this genre, you can dance, cry, and scream — all in under 30 minutes. The foursome are clearly skilled musicians and lyricists, and have an ability to capture situations and emotions we can all relate to, but it would be nice to see some more variety in their next record. Being more playful with their songs may show off their talent even more. Yet still, GLORY remains a cohesive collection of powerful punk songs that show off how catchy this genre is.
Words by Amy Gaffney
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