That's How We Burn (Album)

Album review

The double-consonant name and washed-out aquamarine cover art may bring to mind lo-fi artists Wavves, Mayyors, or Lovvers, but Jaill fall into the more easily digestible subcategory of indie rock where their new labelmates Band of Horses and the Shins reside. For Jaill’s debut Sub Pop full-length, Vinnie Kircher, Austin Dutmer, Andrew Harris, and Ryan Ross take the Shins’ lazy haze of indie pop and amp it up into a bouncy, slightly tough sound of their own. There’s a good-natured appeal to the band's songs, but also an undercurrent of detached attitude. Most of That’s How We Burn is made up of ballads and midtempo janglers, as chief songwriters and longtime members Kircher and Dutmer -- the McCartney and Lennon of the band -- pen warm, conventional numbers that wouldn’t feel out of place at a picnic. Meanwhile “Everyone’s Hip,” “She’s My Baby,” and “How’s the Grave” offer up excitable yet sophisticated garage pop that balances out the album nicely. It’s fairly inoffensive rock, but the music and melodies are remarkably accomplished, especially for an early outing. Of course, Jaill have been in the game for a while. This is just their first real chance to shine.

© Jason Lymangrover /TiVo