| One need only listen through San Francisco-based quintet JETSKIIS' debut album,
Spraycation, to appreciate what the band refers to as "island skuzz." Formed a
year ago by "a singer living under house arrest, a bassist without a valid
mailing address, two recently unemployed drummers, and a guitarist in the midst
of a gender epiphany," JETSKIIS wields a grunge attitude informed by the texture
of shoegaze, swathed in layers of pretty surf rock, and offset by classic guitar
breakaways. Lead singer Ryan Beaujolais delivers lyrics with just the right
amount of blase, stringing words together with a devil-may-care attitude that
still allows the poetry of the album's lyrics to come through cleanly.
Mixing lust and longing with references to San Francisco's cityscape, and
physics with tropical seaside trysts, the band cradles its clever narrative in
equally compelling mood-driven instrumentation. Beaujolais coolly ends the
centerpiece track "Moonlight Kawasaki Ride" with "I remember your hair in a coat
of salt spray/ and I remember the sand as it washed down the drain." He's being
subtle- but in combination with the shake of percussion, brooding guitar, and
layered vocals, the sensuality becomes front-and-center. In "Waking Up with
Injuries," he sings, "So boozy bruisers, sleeping sleepers, tattooed waitress,
leaving lovers/ Loving leavers, gap toothed muses, laying laymen I will leave
you to it/ Because tonight my future is assured, by missed calls and voicemails"
over streamlined instrumentation that rips open into a full-throttle rock
bridge, piloted by Jeff Bissell on lead guitar.
For catchy bedroom pop, listeners will inevitably wind up at charmer
"Reagonomics." With its cheeky lyrics, lively drumming, bright synths, breathy
back-up vocals, and some seriously savory bass riffs courtesy of Marc Yco, it
would be tough not to sink into JETSKIIS' wave-washed, sand-coated romance.
(Self Released)
http://www.myspace.com/jetskiis | 
