Spirit Desire
Tigers Jaw
Spirit Desire 7-inch (Tiny Engines)
Release Date: August 11, 2009
1. Spirit Desire
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2. We Are Great, There Is Only One (Tigers Jaw)
3. Crystal Vision
4. Meet At The Corner (digital only)
I used to tell people that Tigers Jaw reminded me of a poppier Archers Of Loaf or a more punk version of Pavement…except with keyboards and a blatant disregard for apostrophes. I would randomly throw out comparisons to Superchunk, Weezer and even The Weakerthans, although the band never directly reminded me of any of them.
Looking back, I’m not sure that it did Tigers Jaw any favors or properly conveyed how amazing and unique its songs truly are. Of course, my point was not that the Scranton, PA five piece is aping any of those bands; it was simply that Tigers Jaw cranks out an extremely infectious, somewhat twisted and slightly off-kilter brand of nostalgic indie rock that transmits in a way that’s as relevant today as it would have been fifteen years ago. Bands like Archers or Superchunk made what they were doing sound almost effortless and infinitely catchy, even though few can replicate their songwriting prowess or craftsmanship…let alone the fiery punk energy and enthusiasm poured into each track.
I’m certainly not saying that Tigers Jaw is there (yet), but it’s difficult to ignore that intangible “something” that makes people stand up and take notice of the band. Problem is, me attempting to write about intangibles doesn’t accurately convey the power of the music. No, you need to actually sit down and listen.
This is the part where you remove Tigers Jaw’s shiny new 7-inch, Spirit Desire, from its awesome packaging, place it on your trusty turntable and give it 20 or 30 spins. Now here’s the part where I try to describe the music, even though you’re all very capable of forming your own opinions…
Spirit Desire finds the young-yet-incredibly-accomplished Tigers Jaw harnessing the elements that made their 2008 Self-Titled full-length so unforgettable and improving on them tenfold. Likewise, the quintet has tightened its songwriting chops and injected a touch of darkness, exhibiting a real knack for exploring new structures and dynamics. More importantly, the band allows its compositions to develop organically. There’s always a killer hook waiting around the corner on this terrific slab of wax – eager to lay you out and steal your heart – but it never fails to present itself in wonderfully unexpected ways.
Of course, some things never change; Tigers Jaw’s penetrating melodies remain more contagious than an airborne virus and the harmonies give us those sweet, sweet roller coaster highs. The buzz of the guitars sets our blood boiling, the rhythm section pounds a hypnotic beat through our skulls and the familiar warmth of the keys wash over Spirit Desire in waves of fuzzy sound. Still, none of it would sound so memorable without the band’s subtle restraint and its ability to create tension and excitement in such a short amount of time. The songs on this 7-inch never pull their punches – they just keep you guessing when and where that knockout uppercut will land.
Maybe the reason why Tigers Jaw impresses me so much is not for the qualities it shares with the previously mentioned touchstones but rather for the way it circumvents conventional notions of indie, pop and and punk while still keeping the proceedings high-energy, instantly engaging and a just little bit raw. It’s a skewed yet timeless approach to songwriting that makes the anticipation of whatever they do next that much more intense. As it stands, Tigers Jaw’s catalog of unforgettable hits is quickly growing, and Spirit Desire is the exclamation point on it all. At least so far…
Spirit Desire was recorded by Vince Ratti (Circa Survive, None More Black, Jena Berlin) at The Skylight Studio and was mastered by Bill Henderson at Azimuth Mastering. Tiny Engines will release the 7-inch on August 11, 2009 and digitally on August 04, 2009. Each copy of Spirit Desire includes a free mp3 download code for all the songs, including a bonus fourth track that does not appear on the vinyl. For more information, go to www.myspace.com/tigersjaw or www.tinyengines.net
Press Contact: Chuck Daley / Beartrap PR / chuck@beartrappr.com / (704) 649-7128
