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The Tufts Daily
Where you read it first | Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Jet rocks softer but soundly with 'Shaka Rock'

    After almost three years out of the public eye, Jet is back with a statement: Our domination of the blazing neo-classic rock scene is far from over.
    With their new album, "Shaka Rock," out last month, the boys from Melbourne, Australia, have their work cut out for them as they look to follow their hugely popular debut, "Get Born" (2003), and the platinum "Shine On" (2006).
    The first two albums were internationally well-received and helped the band fashion a niche among classic rock lovers jonesing for a throwback. "Shaka Rock" is sure to satisfy the fan base, and it's probably the Jet LP most reminiscent of the Rolling Stones.
    The third album has a softer edge than "Shine On" and "Get Born," but it's still a solid effort that shows a subtle evolution. Album opener "K.I.A." starts things on the right foot, reaffirming the band's commitment to a crunchy guitar sound and snarling vocals. The song that follows, "Beat on Repeat," is a catchy song that's a bit more toned down than "K.I.A." but doesn't lose any of the latter's energy. The first two songs on the album are among the strongest. They show off the band's versatility and incorporate the aspects that make Jet unique.
    Other highlights include "La Di Da," "Seventeen" and "Goodbye Hollywood." The first is a prime example of the influence that the Stones have had on Jet: Its intro and verses sound like an update to the Stones' hit "Paint it Black."
    Just because the song is influenced heavily by the British classic rock band does not mean it lacks original compositional elements. "La Di Da" emerges from darkness into lighter, upbeat choruses, and Jet weaves together these disparate parts effortlessly.
    "Seventeen," the fifth song on the album, is its best. Instrumentally, "Seventeen" is one of the album's most interesting mixes, with a driving piano part meshing seamlessly with Jet's typical overdriven guitar riffs. "Seventeen" also boasts a catchy melody and strong backup vocals, making the song incredibly fun to listen to.
    "Goodbye Hollywood" is about the band leaving southern California to go back home, a common Jet motif that ties "Shaka Rock" back to Jet's other albums.
    It's in the consistency category that "Shaka Rock" fails to carry on the tradition of Jet's first couple LPs. The lowest lows are "Black Hearts," "Walk" and "Times Like This."
    "Shaka Rock" represents a commendable comeback from a three-year hiatus. It's not their best work, but the album does merit its spot in Jet's discography, and will no doubt help define the rest of the band's career. The somewhat softer side of Jet represented by "Shaka Rock" is a step back from previous works but is by no means a poor move. In fact, "Shaka Rock" has the potential to appeal to a very large audience of both old fans and people discovering Jet for the first time.