Them Jones - Instructions For Re-Entry

 

I feel more than a little guilty to have ignored Them Jones since my 2020 review of The Saturn Cinema which you can read here. This is the third album since and takes the total to 7 for the Philadelphia five piece and it is wonderful.

Many of you know that two ways to my heart are through Psych Pop and Pastoral Pop. Instructions For Re-Entry does both brilliantly, but adds a whole lot not more. At times, it is wonderfully hippy-ish, but the arrangements can be like soundscapes or even Shoegaze with more words.

It is the arrangements that stand out, ethereal at times but with big footprints into Pop at times. Songs can whisk you away, but then catch you by surprise with the addition of a surprise instrument or Guitar intrusion, yet on other occasions they can even sound a little Madchester.

A song like the wonderful Extras In Mine is inspiring Trippy Psych, but also gets close to The Dukes Of Strasosphear. Even the excellent, more straight ahead, Almost Home reveals slight changes of direction, this time edging to Pop Rock.

Pop Rock is served even more on the slower A Distant Sound which adds Violins and the standout song, Feel Right, even adds English Horn. Human sounds a little Revolver, but could also be on the soundtrack 60s European Film soundtrack.

This is a tremendous album, more Psych than The Saturn Cinema, but it is wonderfully arranged in its instrumentation, melody and vocal harmony. An exceptional offering that you could prefer the term Pastoral Psych. Excellent!

You can listen to and buy the album here. 

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Them Jones - The Saturn Cinema

Firstly, let me say that I absolutely adore Them Jones. This is the Philadephia five piece's fourth album and without doubt it is their best. Those pesky noisier guitars have been set aside for a more Piano led adventure and it works oh so well.

When there is Guitar, it is done in a much gentler understated way, there's even guest appearances on Brass. The band have been labelled as Psych and we know what problems labels can induce. A potential needed audience will think of Flower Power Guitars and little else.






This shift has resulted in a move away from the bearded Shindig wannabes and towards a far more Pastoral Pop akin to the likes of Jacco Gardner, even gentler Dreamy Psych tinted pop such as XTC's Skylarking. The Saturn Cinema sound more Toytown, welcomely so.

This isn't a twee self satisfied affair though and when the band step away from the pop, they take on some unexpected delights. To The Shoreline Crawling is a large soundscape akin to 70s Pink Floyd or more recently, Big Big Train. The Doctor is magnificent, a bit like Ron and Russell Mael retreating to the country.







Bloodline Blues has a Spaghetti Western feel and Parts And Pieces is suitably trippy, but it is the Pop that pierces most. Isn't it always? The likes of The Woman Is A Poor Child swoons along and Parts And Pieces is in line with the intelligent pop of The Sugarplastic.

The piano parts have a Madness feel, without the humour, but with the songwriting strength. The Saturn Cinema is an outstanding offering. It'll certainly be up their on my end of year list and I'd also recommend the band's fine back catalogue. It is different to this, but just as interesting.








You can listen to and buy the album here.


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