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REVIEW: Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers - "Pretty Good for a Girl Band"

 


Formed in high school in the town of Canberra, Australia, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers have been steadily dropping singles since 2017. Effortlessly blending Riot Grrrl-era vibes and pop punk in a modern way, you could say they’ve got it all, especially now that they’ve dropped their very first EP, ‘’Pretty Good for a Girl Band’. As much as the title is indicative of some unsolicited comments and backwards opinions, it seems to have fueled the band all the more in writing their fiercest stuff yet.

Vocally speaking the EP addresses this, but the band also reflects on larger themes such as relationships and what it means to take a stand for yourself, creating an unapologetic yet complex record. And they sound amazing doing it as one can hear right away with their gang harmonies in ‘’AHHHH!’’. They manage to create a sound that’s edgy yet hopeful as one can also hear in ‘’Up to Summit’’, combining soft guitar melodies and back vocals along with a choppier chorus and thumping bassline. The bands predilection for pop punk can be heard on ‘’Miss Your Birthday’’ the perfect tune to ride in your car and sing along.

The most defiant song off the record is definitely ‘’Girl Sports’’, with tension slowly building through the verses culminating to a relentlessly catchy and snarly chorus with lines such as ‘’ Maybe you should try sticking to girl sports/ And men would like you better if you didn’t talk/ Don’t get me wrong you’re pretty good for a girl band/ It’s kinda complicated you won’t understand.’’ What’s so great is that this defiant, individualistic spirit is consistent throughout the record whether in a more overt way like in ‘’Girl Sports’’ or during their more fun tunes like the closer ‘’Bull Dragon’’. The song s an ode to anyone trying to reclaim their self-respect and attempting to anchor themselves with all the complexity that may entail, the song ending with a redemptive ‘’I don’t need you anyway.’’ But it’s safe to say with such a strong debut, blending fierceness and quirkiness in equal measure, that we need bands like this.


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