New Music Review #9: ‘Miss Your Birthday’ by Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers
I am a sucker for a song about the stark realities of trying to make it as a musician. There’s a certain romance in the struggle, respect in hearing someone admit that chasing your dreams ain’t easy, motivation in the belief that it’s worth it anyway.
The constancy of touring. The conflicting emotions. The dueling, incompatible hopes of commercial success and not selling out. ‘My Happiness’ by Powderfinger. ‘The Hard Road’ by Hilltop Hoods. ‘Come On Mess Me Up’ by Cub Sport.
While ‘Miss Your Birthday’ isn’t strictly about that, it has all the outlines of such a track and is otherwise a sensational tune about independence, loneliness, growing up, and finding yourself without losing everyone else.
Full disclosure: This song was actually released last November, but: (1) I’ve been at my in-laws’ place in Canberra the past two weeks and thought a band hailing from the nation’s capital would be appropriate; and (2) Teen Jesus are about to embark on a long-awaited tour, so why not shine a light on their great work?
‘Miss Your Birthday’ is an energised, colourful, highly relatable pop-punk tune, complete with surging guitars, a disarming pre-chorus, and a soaring hook. You can certainly hear the influence of co-writer Alex Lahey, both musically and in its biting and achingly real lyrics.
If you like Tired Lion, Press Club, or Teenage Joans, you’ll dig this for sure.
And a few others:
‘God Is A Freak’ by Peach PRC: Peach PRC follows up her brilliant and well deserved Hottest 100 debut with this funny and scathing take down of institutional religion and the puritanical hypocrisy it can often inspire. Key line: “Why’s he watching me getting railed on the couch? He’s got fucked up priorities.”
‘The Lake of Twisted Limbs’ by Pridelands: Intensely atmospheric and darkly emotive alt-metal – this song sounds like how a Robert Eggers movie feels. The lyrics paint a vivid, disturbing image of self-destruction and pain. It’s a challenging listen, but a worthwhile experience.
‘It’s Not That Bad’ by Caroline & Claude: Some very cool and unique sounding indie pop from this brand new brother-sister duo out of Sydney. It’s complex and dreamy, melancholy but oddly uplifting. You’ll hear something different every spin.