Jet Leg Gemini - Fire The Cannons

Band: Jet Lag Gemini
Album: Fire The Cannons
Genre: Pop Pop/Rock
Label: Doghouse

Tracks:
1. Run This City
2. Doctor, Please!
3. The Bad Apples
4. Bittersweet
5. Stepping Stone
6. Fit To Be Tied
7. Just Say How
8. If It Was Up To Me
9. Every Minute
10. Keep This With You
11. Picture Frames

Maybe this is just a coincidence, but Jet Lag Gemini's, "Fire The Cannons," could not have come at a more perfect time. Yesterday was the first day of Spring and I am more than ready for some fun, catchy, yet well designed pop punk/rock and that is just what Jet Leg Gemini has to offer. This Doghouse Records release came out in January, but feels made for making memories under streetlights at night or on your way to your favorite summer activities.
Maybe this is just a coincidence, but Jet Lag Gemini's, "Fire The Cannons," could not have come at a more perfect time. Yesterday was the first day of Spring and I am more than ready for some fun, catchy, yet well designed pop punk/rock and that is just what Jet Leg Gemini has to offer. This Doghouse Records release came out in January, but feels made for making memories under streetlights at night or on your way to your favorite summer activities.

Cannons wastes no time getting you moving with the lead single/opener, "Run This City," which oozes with catchy rock riffs and lyrics that are meant to be sung with your closest friends [which is something you'll want to do multiple times over the course of this album]. The thing about not only the single, but the album in general is that, unlike many others in this genres, Jet Lag Gemini seem to work very hard to craft a sound full of wonderful instrumentation [complete with guitar solos] while still managing to be catchy and hook laden. It's a phenomenon that's quite refreshing. "The Bad Apples," the third track, starts off with a very dance like drum beat that builds into a crazed rock riff followed by a chorus that can't be denied then back into the original dance groove that seems to sink into your flesh. It's easily my choice for second single. The band does show more sides than just straight rock and roll though, as on, "Stepping Stone," which serves as a mid-album breather for those who couldn't stop moving. It's a beautiful song that mixes acoustic and electric guitars, drums, and accordion. The fact that any band, let alone a pop punk band, uses accordion is more than reason to celebrate the talent of Jet Lag. For the second half of Cannons, Jet Lag references 70's rock ["Fit To Be Tied"], nearly induces your participation through singing ["If It Was Up To Me"], and straight up rocks ["Every Minute"]. I feel I must point out, "Keep This With You," the second slower track on the album, is an amazing number with references to ships at sea and war with the sure to be fan favorite chorus, "We won't surrender, we won't surrender here, we have no fear." From there, we find the closer, "Picture Frames," which builds slowly and then hits you with a steady rock beat and guitar to move your bones. It hits all the right notes in terms of closing an album and leaves you wearing a smile.

"Fire The Cannons," is only the debut full length from Jet Lag Gemini, but is full of promise. The band has taken pop punk and made it more diverse and lush with 70's rock influence and lyrics about more than just evil parents and lost love. This album is sure to propel Jet Lag Gemini to the forefront of the punk scene, if not being a way for them to break into the mainstream. No album in recent memory has made me want summer more and I couldn't be happier about that.

GRADE: 8/10