Half Divorced

In 2004, Pissed Jeans were four working stiffs who put some danger into their humdrum lives by forming a band that would give their bad karma a place to be heard, with raw, chaotic music that even by the standards of punk rock sounded righteously angry and lyrics that could sometimes be funny if it werent for the blasts of bitter frustration that poured from Matt Korvettes voice box. If their music is in any way an accurate reflection of their lives, Pissed Jeans dont feel any better after two decades of modest success, and thats bad news for the group and good news for their fans, judging from their sixth studio album, 2024s Half Divorced. Still sounding like the unholy spawn of the Jesus Lizard, the Lazy Cowgirls, Blood Guts & Pussy-era Dwarves, and your creepy neighbor who is always screaming at his dog, Pissed Jeans have changed only so much since 2005s Shallow (or 2017s Why Love Now, for that matter). Guitarist Bradley Fry can generate something close to a melody while keeping the songs from sounding too musical, bassist Randy Huth and drummer Sean McGuinness sound like the best sort of train wreck backing him up, and Korvettes bottomless reserve of bile inspires awe as he spews his skull-crushing frustration with working-class debt, bad and overly attentive parents, his inability to relate to smart women, the theft of his cars catalytic converter, the endless frustrations of a low-level sex workers career, and the reasonable life goals that are always just out of reach. One of the things that separate Pissed Jeans from most punk bands is their anger not only seems real and potentially lethal, but it reflects the stuff of ordinary lives, as relatable bedevilments fester into something with explosive force. Steve Albini once said that when he was in Big Black, he wrote about people doing horrible things so he wouldnt do them himself, and if there was ever another band that seemingly follows this path, its Pissed Jeans. They even have their own corollary to "Kerosene" in "Junktime," in which a man takes joy in the purifying explosion of a butane tank. Amidst it all is one honestly hilarious number, "Everywhere Is Bad," in which the band recites a litany of places to go, and Korvette predictably and concisely sums up whats wrong with them. ("Seattle?" "Youre soaking wet!" "Las Vegas?" "A losing bet!") Its one thing for a bunch of young dudes to pour out their angst like this, but its something else altogether to hear it from guys settled into middle age, and Half Divorced is Pissed Jeans chosen form of therapy for folks who really, REALLY dont like Mondays. Or most of the rest of the week. ~ Mark Deming

ハードコア・パンクを掲げながら、1曲目からギターの音色を揺らすペンシルヴァニアの4人組による6作目。そこからスラッジ・メタルや5分超えの長尺曲も交えつつ、フリーキーなギターと共に型にハマらない曲作りを印象づけると、後半はリフで押す1分台のハードコア・ナンバーを畳み掛けるんだからたまらない。極端すぎる、その展開にヤラれることは必至。
bounce (C)山口智男