Album Review By Chris T Popper

What Would Jesus Drive are described as a ‘4 piece indie-electro lo-fi punk rock band’ on their official website. On a personal level I couldn’t be happier – and after hearing Girls Are In Charge last year (which crashed in to my Top Ten of 2010 at number 3) I have been looking forward to hearing the debut album Black & Blue. A lot.

From the outset driving guitars deliver the sort of riffs I hope for, brilliantly complimented by their acerbic, yet almost celebratory lyrics. Hands up who likes modern Britain (or modern life generally) because Amy Casey and Tim Box aren’t too enamoured with it. And this is what raises WWJD above the norm for me. Lyrically they manage to combine proper satire with the savagery it deserves (just listen to Your Awful Kids), and it works perfectly. I know what’s coming when you jump the queue at the bar (Black & Blue) and they even do the slower songs well.  The Leccy’ is Casey singing about the electric key running out when the shop is shut – the most mundane of subjects you may think? Not in Casey’s hands, she delivers a pitch perfect take on life’s little details “the milks on the brink, in the fridge kicking up a stink”. Wonderful. Other stand out tracks for me are I Think We Rushed In To This (we’ve all been there… “my clinging is wringing you out”) and the epic guitar work on the brilliant Fragile Mansions. To be fair there isn’t really a filler on the album.

This is music without any bullshit. Guitars, heavy drums and synth combine to give the band genuine punch, and then throw in the stiletto sharp intelligence of the lyrics on subjects ranging from love to social outcasts (“He ain’t got no Big Issues, he’s got a Razzle instead…”). I was going to compare WWJD with other current bands of a similar ilk, but that would be doing them a huge disservice. They are what they are – listen to the album and see what you think. I checked to see when their next live date is and it’s not until September. Can someone book them near where I live sooner please – thanks.

So to sum up I’m with WWJD when it comes to modern life. I’m now off to double bag my booze at the Co-op, and then I’m watching lots of TV getting nothing done… again.

Visit the website here. Buy the album from their Bandcamp here.

Download What Would Jesus Drive – Your Awful Kids mp3 (from Black & Blue)

Download What Would Jesus Drive – Fragile Mansions mp3 (from Black & Blue)

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