Island
2008
In This Life
About This Album
Jet Black Stare's debut album shows promise in a number of ways -- the musicianship is good and consistent throughout, the choruses are catchy, and there are good vocals from frontman Rod Black on most of the songs. Though the group excels at the slower, lighter numbers that are liberally interspersed throughout In This Life, that's not to say that the band is incapable of harder-edged numbers, as demonstrated by opening track "Ready to Roll." Guitarists Flip and Dave Muselman turn in steady, no-frills performances, and Jet Black Stare's rhythm section, comprised of Shane Hayes on bass and Dan Swinimer on drums, provides a solid foundation no matter what the tempo. Unfortunately, it all comes to naught. While there may be no problem with the band's basic technique, In This Life is bogged down by its execution. Jet Black Stare sound much like fellow Canadians Nickelback and Theory of a Deadman, and the album does nothing to distinguish them from their contemporaries. The approach becomes almost paint-by-numbers at certain points; songs like "I'm Breathing," "Rearview Mirror," and "Poster Princess" sound almost interchangeable with other tunes from their post-grunge peers.
Track List (try tracks 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and 8)

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