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Perfecting Loneliness

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Perfecting Loneliness
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 15, 2002
GenreFolk-pop, indie rock
Length67:49
LabelJade Tree
ProducerJ. Robbins
Jets to Brazil chronology
Four Cornered Night
(2000)
Perfecting Loneliness
(2002)

Perfecting Loneliness is the third and final studio album by American rock band Jets to Brazil. Vocalist/guitarist Blake Schwarzenbach spent six weeks at his mother's farm in Nova Scotia, Canada, where he worked on new material. In early 2002, the group recorded their next album with J. Robbins. The band went on a pre-release US tour in June and July, leading up to the release of Perfecting Loneliness on October 15 through independent label Jade Tree. The group had planned to promote it with a tour, however, due to an illness, the tour was delayed until mid-2003. By this point, a music video had been filmed for "Cat Heaven" and drummer Chris Daly was replaced by Matt Torrey.

Background and production

After being delayed twice,[1][2] Four Cornered Night saw release in September 2000 through independent label Jade Tree.[3] It was supported with two US tours;[2][4] during the latter of these, in early 2001, the group premiered new material, including the tracks "William Tell Override" and "Loose Candy".[5] Vocalist/guitarist Blake Schwarzenbach spent six weeks at his mother's farm in Nova Scotia, Canada;[6] his family planned to go on vacation and left him alone at the house. Due to the farm's remote nature, he spent plenty of time writing new material. Following the September 11 attacks, it took the group several months to become creative again.[7] In March 2002, the band announced they had planned to record their next album in the coming weeks for release in the middle of the year.[5] It was produced by J. Robbins.

Composition

Musically, the sound of Perfecting Loneliness has been described as folk-pop[8] and indie rock,[9][10] incorporating piano melody lines [8] and infrequent use of cello.[11] Schwarzenbach's vocals on the album have been referred to as a mix of Joey Ramone, Cracker frontman David Lowery and Teenage Fanclub frontman Norman Blake.[9] Lyrically, it tackles the themes of despair and loneliness, against piano, softly-played guitars and scare drum patterns; though it occasionally enters into rock territory with distorted guitar lines, loud drums and heavy bass parts. The group said the record was about the search for love, God, while lacking in attempting to find these aspects.[6] Schwarzenbach explained the search: "I think it is always worth trying to find out whether you can find what you are looking for or not ... at the end of the trip there is a new album in my case, so the search was by no means in vain."[7] Schwarzenbach initially composed some of the tracks as folk songs, but later evolved after showing them to the band.[6]

The opening guitar riff of "The Frequency" recalled Hum,[12] before shifting into a mix of power pop and a Built to Spill-esque instrumental.[13] It sees Schwarzenbach's detail his hometown New York City with a bitter nature, lamenting hipsters and prolonged career paths.[9] "You're the One I Want" was reminiscent of Howard Jones.[14] "Cat Heaven" was written for Schwarzenbach's cat Chinatown, who became ill and had died.[7] The title-track, which lasts for over five minutes in length, combined the lyrical nature of the group's debut Orange Rhyming Dictionary (1998) with the layered sound of Four Cornered Night. The final minute features radio transmissions from the Apollo 11 moon landing; this aided in the lyrics discussing alienation and isolation.[15] The song, along with the final two tracks "Disgrace" and "Rocket Boy", was written after the September 11 attacks.[7] "Psalm" was compared to James Taylor. The energy of "Autumn Walker" and "William Tell Override" recalled the likes of Hüsker Dü and Sugar.[8] "Further North" begins with a folk-tinged acoustic guitar part, gentle percussion and a bass part, as Schwarzenbach details his mother's farm and the topic of isolation.[6] Schwarzenbach uses "Disgrace" as social commentary on having nothing to watch despite a multitude of television channels.[9] The closing track "Rocket Boy" is a ballad[6] that lasts for over nine minutes in length.[16] It discusses loneliness, alongside humanity and the urge to fix life's problems.[17]

Release

In June and July 2002, the group went on a US tour, dubbed Fill in the Gaps Tour '02. They were supported by Pilot to Gunner.[18] On July 1, Perfecting Loneliness was announced for release in October; its track listing was revealed.[19] Perfecting Loneliness was released on October 15 through Jade Tree.[19] The artwork features a castle under a twilight moon; guitarist Brian Maryansky saw the image in a children's book that they found in the street.[7] The band had intended to promote it with a US headlining tour in October and November,[20] however, on the day of the first show, the whole tour was cancelled due to an illness in the band.[21]

The group self-directed a music video for the track "Cat Heaven".[22] On January 9, 2003, Schwarzenbach revealed he had spent the preceding six weeks recuperating in Canada. In the same announcement, he said drummer Chris Daly had left the group.[23] In April, Matt Torrey, formerly of MK Ultra, was announced as their new drummer. Between May and July, the band toured across the US on the Throwdown 2003 tour, with support from John Vanderslice.[24] Additional shows were added into late July, with dates in Canada.[25]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[8]
Chart AttackFavorable[14]
CMJ New Music ReportFavorable[12]
Ox-Fanzine9/10[26]
Pitchfork5.2/10[13]
Rolling Stone[27]
Spin7/10[9]
Sputnikmusic4/5[6]
Stylus MagazineF[28]
Ultimate Guitar8/10[29]

Perfecting Loneliness received a mainly positive reception from music critics. Ox-Fanzine's Joachim Hiller said the record "fully met my expectations."[26] It "lives up to its title", bordering on "pathos and kitsch."[26] Chart Attack writer Elizabeth Chorney-Booth said Schwarzenbach's transition from "emo-punk hero to dreamy-eyed pop wuss is complete… and the results are lovely."[14] The album is filled with "swoony lyrics, bulging keyboards, unabashed melody and earnest little rock-outs."[14] AllMusic reviewer Charles Spano noted the "deeper instrumentation, undone piano melodies, and larger-than-life orchestration", which the group used to "turn intimate observations into moments of transcendent grandeur."[8] Sputnikmusic staff member Tyler Fisher said that despite the group toing the "line of bland here and there", the music is, at times, "perfectly beautiful."[6] The album's strength relied on its "softer, slower tracks rather than the more intense" ones, though "there is a good variety of both."[6] Louis Miller of CMJ New Music Report said the "lushly arranged" collection saw the group crafting "stellar, yet humble songs ... that quite often develop into six and seven-minute epics."[12]

PopMatters writer Adam Dlugacz said album "immediately addresses some of the problems that were prevalent" on Four Cornered Night, however, by the midway point, things became "absolutely inexplicable to me. Just when you think they've turned the corner, they turn into Chicago, complete with cheesy progressions that are supposed let you know how much they care."[30] While noting the album's long length, Ultimate Guitar found the release less personal than Four Cornered Night with more obscurity in the lyrics. Despite the lack of "immediate emotional impact", it had "moments of greatness."[29] Punknews.org staff member Scott Heisel criticized the album for "lacking in the lyrical department", "recycling themes" from Orange Rhyming Dictionary and the length of the songs.[31] In a negative review for Pitchfork, Eric Carr wrote that it was a "sad example of a few decent arrangements being recycled and regurgitated until, by the end of the album", with nothing "left but pre-chewed, partially digested gunk."[13] Stylus Magazine's Todd Burns highlighted Schwarzenbach's lyrics as being the sole highlight on the record, though with no "audible signs of innovation or progression."[28] He found the music "so entirely lacking"; he release failing to deliver "the one two punch of lyric and music."[28]

Track listing

  1. "The Frequency" – 6:15
  2. "You're the One I Want" – 4:26
  3. "Cat Heaven" – 5:06
  4. "Perfecting Loneliness" – 5:47
  5. "Lucky Charm" – 5:59
  6. "Wish List" – 4:19
  7. "Psalm" – 5:16
  8. "Autumn Walker" – 5:33
  9. "Further North" – 5:14
  10. "William Tell Override" – 3:58
  11. "Disgrace" – 6:34
  12. "Rocket Boy" – 9:33

References

Citations

  1. ^ Paul, Aubin (July 18, 2000). "Jets to Brazil Delayed!". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on July 3, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b MTV News Staff (August 11, 2000). "Rock Beat: Garbage, Get Up Kids, Sunshine ..." MTV. Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  3. ^ "Four Cornered Night - Jets to Brazil | Release Info". AllMusic. Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  4. ^ "Tours". Jade Tree. Archived from the original on March 31, 2001. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Heisel, Scott (March 28, 2002). "Jets To Brazil have plans to record third album". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on July 3, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h Fisher, Tyler (August 14, 2016). "Jets to Brazil - Perfecting Loneliness (staff review)". Sputnikmusic. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Hiller, Joachim (December 2002 – February 2003). "Jets to Brazil: Lonely Country Life". Ox-Fanzine (in German). Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Spano, Charles. "Perfecting Loneliness – Jets to Brazil". AllMusic. Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Beaujon 2002, p. 125
  10. ^ Potter, Angela (October 16, 2002). "Jets to Brazil | Perfecting Loneliness". Daily Nexus. Archived from the original on July 2, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  11. ^ Orloff, Brian (September 4, 2005). "Audiofiles". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b c Miller, Louis (October 21, 2002). "Jets To Brazil: Perfecting Loneliness". CMJ New Music Report. Archived from the original on October 21, 2002. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b c Carr, Eric (October 16, 2002). "Jets to Brazil - Perfecting Loneliness Album Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on July 4, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Chorney-Booth, Elizabeth (October 15, 2002). "CD REVIEWS: Broken Social Scene, Jets To Brazil, The Sadies, Frank Zappa and many more". Chart Attack. Archived from the original on June 30, 2006. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  15. ^ Holmes 2002, p. 41
  16. ^ A.V. Club Staff (November 19, 2003). "Best music: the orphans". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on November 23, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  17. ^ "Review: Jets to Brazil". Modern Fix. Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  18. ^ White, Adam (June 16, 2002). "Jets To Brazil dates… Whippersnapper… Casket Lottery…". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on July 3, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  19. ^ Jump up to: a b White, Adam (July 1, 2002). "Jets To Brazil album title and release date". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on July 3, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  20. ^ Heisel, Scott (September 25, 2002). "Jets to Brazil fall tourdates". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on July 4, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  21. ^ Heisel, Scott (October 14, 2002). "Jets to Brazil cancel entire US tour". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on July 3, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  22. ^ Hart 202, p. 54
  23. ^ White, Adam (January 9, 2003). "Jets to Brazil Is Still Together, Minus Chris Daly". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on July 3, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  24. ^ Heisel, Scott (April 19, 2003). "Jets to Brazil back on tour". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on July 3, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  25. ^ Heisel, Scott (July 14, 2003). "Jets to Brazil July Shows". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on July 3, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  26. ^ Jump up to: a b c Hiller, Joachim (September–November 2002). "Reviews: Jets to Brazil / Perfecting Loneliness DoLP/CD". Ox-Fanzine (in German). Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  27. ^ "Jets to Brazil". Rolling Stone. 2002. Archived from the original on September 24, 2009. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  28. ^ Jump up to: a b c Burns, Todd (September 1, 2003). "Jets To Brazil - Perfecting Loneliness - Review". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on June 30, 2006. Retrieved July 1, 2020. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; November 11, 2007 suggested (help)
  29. ^ Jump up to: a b UG Team (July 25, 2003). "Perfecting Loneliness review by Jets to Brazil". Ultimate Guitar. Archived from the original on July 2, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  30. ^ Dlugacz, Adam (December 1, 2002). "Jets to Brazil: Perfecting Loneliness". PopMatters. Archived from the original on July 7, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  31. ^ Heisel, Scott (October 22, 2002). "Jets To Brazil - Perfecting Loneliness". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on July 3, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.

Sources