Let’s face it, the only reason anybody knows anything about Scranton, Pennsylvania is because of The Office. In fact, without the adored workplace comedy, I would be pressed to say that I would even know that Scranton existed. By all accounts, Tigers Jaw are out to change that. With their own brand of punk-tinged indie rock, the group are out to prove that Scranton is more than just the vessel for a critically acclaimed sitcom.
On their Prison Jazz Records debut full-length, Tigers Jaw introduce listeners to a sound that seemingly has two personas. There is the stripped down, upbeat, guitar-centered indie rock that kicks off songs like album opener “The Sun” and fan favorite “I Saw Water”, and there is the slower, more thoughtful face that Tigers Jaw don sporadically throughout the self-titled record. The combination, reminiscent of early emo-punk outfits Saves the Day and The Get Up Kids, might not be anything new, but it’s still very much appreciated.
Tigers Jaw is fueled by emotionally-driven lyrics brought to life by vocalist Adam McIwee, whose voice is one of those that reveal passion while at the same time giving the impression that he’s barely trying. Aforementioned opener “The Sun” is one of the better tracks on the album, offering up a well-organized mix of Tigers Jaw’s two personas. During the chorus, McIwee’s cries of “And what about your friends / Do they make you happy?” are sure to grab the attention of more than just one listener right from the outset. Sandwiched between this and “I Saw Water”, Tigers Jaw’s most upbeat song, is “Plane Vs. Tank Vs. Submarine”, an acoustic number that I hope won’t be forgotten in between its phenomenal bookends.
”I Was Never Your Boyfriend” shows Tigers Jaw’s knack for making simple riffs and progressions sound nothing short of beautiful. This song and others like “Between Your Band and the Other Band” and “Arms Across America” are sure to be excellent when performed live. The band can slow everything down and deliver in-your-face, emotional one-liners just as fast as they can speed everything up and have everyone rocking out, head banging by themselves in a packed venue. Finally, closer “Never Saw It Coming” begins with an acoustic guitar and a slew of drawn-out vocals by McIwee, keyboardist Brianna Collins, and bassist Ben Walsh, who assist in the vocals throughout the record. It progresses into a distorted, reverberated explosion that, let’s face it, we all saw coming.
Tigers Jaw sounds to me like the album Brand New didn’t write in between Your Favorite Weapon and Deja Entendu. While this might come across as a presumptuous statement to people who have never heard the group, giving the album a spin might give you an idea as to what I’m trying to describe here. The raw emotion of Brand New’s early days is present, but doesn’t override the mature, settled sound that we all grew to love on Deja. If you don’t listen to Tigers Jaw, now is the perfect time to start as they are set to re-release this record, release a split EP with Balance & Composure, and record and release a new full-length this year on Run for Cover records.
