A concept album that deals with the real life shark attacks that inspired the landmark movie Jaws, this is the type of heady fair that listeners might expect from some post-rock behemoth or prog-rock posturing; but this awesome idea comes from none other than Akimbo. Jersey Shores is a departure from there normally more straight forward rock bombast, and one might find an explanation in the scenario that somewhere along the line Akimbo picked up guitarist Aaron Walters; but I think this is a completely lazy explanation. Sometimes bands may just want to try something a little different after five albums, and this is where Akimbo probably was when they decided to write this album; plus, it is about Jaws.
From the tentative opening of "Matawan," Akimbo build a musical tension that gives release to relentless and thundering drumming that creates a massive feel while the guitar and bass riff on to the steady rhythmic back bone while building one hell of a mood. The lengthy, bruising of "Lester Stillwell" mixes in stylistic changes while the vocals remain just in tune with the music for maximum effect; at times (in the slow part particularly), the song has an almost old blues feel in the vocal storytelling while not sounding so obviously influenced as such. "Rogue" may be the best track on this beast with its incessant and powerful sound; so, do not even think about skipping this one because it would be a shame to miss out on such and intense piece of music.
Akimbo makes me a fan with Jersey Shores even though their other material still holds little sway for me, but this album brings a definite smile to my face as it trundles along with an oblivious notion to genre and or creed. A roiling mass of guitars and drums that pound into listeners the intent to rock their socks off, but Akimbo keeps the music moving and thus the storyline as a result. My one complaint is the somewhat reaching of the lyrics as they come off as rather sophomoric ("1916. No Biologists. Science In Infancy. Reactive. Improvising
") at times, even though at others the lyrics are quite good ("These shallow beds have long housed Neptune's savage bulls, hunting in the fresh"), but the vocal performance is fairly excellent so the listening experience is not impacted in the least. Jersey Shores succeeds in its aim with excellence and deserves to be checked into at all costs.
