Wow! It's great to know even in the cynical American age of the late 2000s that fun, edgy, high-spirited summery pop/rock still exists, at least as borne on the wings of
Echo Jet. We've heard from joyfully harmonic twins Denny (vocals, guitar) and Kenny Scott (guitar, programming, background vocals) before--ten years exactly, in fact, when their initial incarnation as
Swirl 360 snagged them a deal with Mercury Records and favorable press from tastemakers like Rolling Stone. Though the brothers disbanded that outfit because everyone was trying to market them as a boy band (which made sense in 1998), their album
Ask Anybody was lauded for their
Oasis and
Beatles influences and strong modern rock production with the help of guys like
Desmond Child and Adam Schlesinger. Ten years down the road, after gigging under the radar and placing lots of tracks on film and TV, they resurfaced as
Echo Jet, and it's good to note that time hasn't tempered their boyish enthusiasm or penchant for crunchy pop. The duo's self-titled debut is a high energy blast from start to finish, from the cheery and playful, lyrically wistful debut single "Wave" to comparing potential true love as a "Chemical" and illuminating a path towards happy rock enlightenment on "Light Shine." While their rock sound is distinctively post-millennial and (fortunately) post-grunge, lyrically they invoke the chipper attitude of
the Beach Boys, extolling the joys of an endless summer on "Drive" and exploring "sunshine with attitude" on the throbbing and intense "California Blur."
Echo Jet's infectious melodies, harmonies, and riffs ensure that even when there are doubts amidst the sunshine, they'll always find "Something to Believe In." The vibe is so uplifting that even when they're singing "Love Kills" at their heartfelt best, we don't truly believe they'll stay down for long. In fact, they quickly reassure us that they'll be OK later in the lyric. Which they reaffirm again on a charming, jangling little song they actually call "Okay." Most people probably wish they had skipped over the dark edges of the 9/11-Iraq era in America as easily as these guys as they bridge the last ten years on this irresistible disc.
Echo Jet is a throwback to when music was light and escapist, and seriously, what can truly be wrong with that? ~ Jonathan Widran