Note: This review was originally posted on Austin Sound (link), but is the original work of the author. -Ed.

If local thrift stores selling old pearl snaps along side vintage instruments wasn’t enough to convince you that Austin might be a town that values a “revival” spirit, the Jungle Rockers might be the kick in the 40-year-old Levis you need. In fact, the new EP by the Jungle Rockers, which follows in the footsteps of last year’s eponymous debut, would be more at home on the shelves of one of a hundred “vintage” stores, or perhaps even your dad’s record collection, than next to most new music today. While venturing into the same territory as thousands of garage bands across America, the Jungle Rockers recreate a bygone era with striking success; but whether or not mere revival of the classics is cause for celebration hinges on a simple question you should probably ask yourself: Am I looking for one hell of a rockin’ good time?

Don’t kid yourself, you are. And if that be the case, Cool It Out is a shot straight to the vein of guitar licks so raw they could get Bo Diddley turning in his grave. A primal scream jump starts “Cool It Out”, followed by riffs and vocal howls that burn the tape throughout, pushing needles to red and, presumably, all the kids to the black checkered dance floor. “I wanna be a good boy, meet a good girl / But there’s a devil in my head goin’ ‘ha, ha, ha, ha’” chant the Rockers, flashing their signature sardonic wit like true greasers. In fact, most lyrics can be classified into one of three taxa: 1) self-attributions of “bein’ bad”, 2) clever sexual innuendos about women, or 3) screaming, with an emphasis on 3) screaming. The combination of the three is, quite literally, timeless.

In the grand scheme of things, both for music and the Jungle Rockers, Cool It Out is generally more of the same. But when that “same” is exciting music that hearkens back to a simpler, more enjoyable time in rock-n-roll, it’s hard to deny that while musical pioneers they are not, their music is first and foremost entirely enjoyable, a quality music has often forgot in the many years since.

Tunes:

Jungle Rockers - “Cool It Out”

Info:

Cool It Out is available now.

Websites:

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