A Cacophony of Adjectives and Verbs: The Folk Punk Wisdom of AJJ

AJJ

When I heard that AJJ was releasing their sixth studio album, "The Bible 2", I figured that I had better check them out.  After all, they are from Phoenix, in my home state, and I have never heard of them!

Maybe because they recently changed their name.  They were once known as Andrew Jackson Jihad.  In a statement, singer, songwriter and guitarist, Sean Bonnette, said, "1) We are not Muslims, and as such, it is disrespectful and irresponsible for us to use the word jihad in our name.  2) We no longer wish to be a living reminder of president Andrew Jackson.  Interesting historical figure as he was, he was an odious person and our fascination with him has grown stale."  Most of the fans were already simplifying their name to AJJ anyway.

To familiarize myself with their music, I first checked out their second album, "People Who Can Eat People Are the Luckiest People in the World".  Now, if this album title sounds like something Modest Mouse would use, well the music sounds a bit like it, too.  Branded as folk punk, it has heavy use of stand-up bass, acoustic guitars, mandolins, and horns,with bitingly sarcastic lyrics in a voice that resemble's Isaac Brock's Neil Young-like warble, a lot like Modest Mouse.  But AJJ takes it to the next level.  This really is punk rock - played on folk, acoustic instruments - and I love it!  There is no way to describe how much I love this album.  How can these guys be from Arizona and I have never heard of them?  I mean, the mixture of folk and punk is not new, although usually Irish, The Pogues, Flogging Molly, or even Mumford & Sons.  It's not even new to Arizona.  People who have seen Meat Puppets live know that they mix folk and country with punk.  But no one does it with flourish like AJJ.  A word of caution - there is a frequent dropping of F Bombs on this record, so it may not be safe for the whole family.  My wife's observations is that she likes the music, but not the words.  And not just the harsh language, but the utter caustic nature of the lyrics.  Which is, of course, one of the things that I love the most.

The album starts with "Rejoice", a galloping acoustic tribute to God's awesome qualities.  "His eyes are big X's".  Songs like "Survival Song" and "Bad Bad Things" combine smart lyrics with acoustic guitars set to a hummingbird pace.  These guys have to be great live.  "No More Tears" and "Bells & Whistles" are definitely drinking songs and would fit right in an Irish pubs.  "Randy's House" has some beautiful temp shifts, along with a horn section.  "A Song Dedicated to the Memory of Stormy the Rabbit" is a burlesque waltz that could have been done by Dresden Dolls.  "People II: The Reckoning" is probably my favorite song, combining hauntingly beautiful music with  lyrics like:

"There's a rapist and a Nazi living in our tiny hearts

Child pornographers and cannibals, and politicians, too

There's someone in your heart waiting to fucking strangle you"

And then the song merges into a tribute to Simon & Garfunkel. The album finishes out with the eerie whistling of "Personal Space Invader" and the very Irish "People".

"The Bible 2", released in August of this year, took a radical shift in that the band ditched their folk instruments in favor electric guitars and a harder sound.  Right away, I have to say that I liked the folk punk thing.  That is my only complaint.  Their previous endeavor was much more original and left a greater impression.  There is a shortage of originality in this world, and the last thing we need is another Green Day or Weezer.  There, I said it.  I can now move past my only mean comment and say - this is not a bad album.  In fact, it is a really good album.  It is just nowhere as good as the "People Who Eat Other People..." album.  The same ingenious and acrimonious lyrics are there, only set to a more traditional rock format, kind of like a Descendent's album.

The new change is evident on "Cody's Theme", the album opener, with its grungy guitars, but the band's penchant for telling stories is still there.  "Golden Eagle" is an edgy '70s rock basher.  "Junkie Church" is one of my favorites, simmering down to an acoustic number with sardonic lyrics like:

"Last time I tried to go to sleep

My  mind expanded in an air balloon of words

A thousand conversations with your disembodied voice

In a cacophony of adjectives and verbs air balloon"

"American Garbage" is a great song that kind of has a late '70s new wave vibe, and "No More Shame, No More Fear, No More Dread" is a piano ballad that is almost profound.  "Goodbye, Oh Goodbye" has a video that truly endears this band to me, and I have included it below.  It is a deeply funny parody of the complex videos by OK Go.  Some songs - like "White Worms" and "My Brain Is a Human Body" make me feeling like I am listening to They Might Be Giants sometimes, but then they go all punk on us again on songs like "Terrifyer".  Songs like "Small Red Boy", set to an orchestra with dadaist words, make this band truly great, and the album finishes with a short acoustic number called "When I'm a Dead Boy".

I have a friend who despises when people whine that there is no good music around nowadays.  He urges people to check out their local music scenes, and they might actually find something that tickles their proverbial fancy.  Go out and explore what's around you.  You don't need to go to a huge arena.  You could check out the local bar in your area.  In my case, I could have gone to the Crescent Ballroom in Phoenix - just three hours away from my house - to discover the pleasurable music of AJJ - two different, yet two very pleasing albums.  Often, the very best surprises are hidden close by.  I will definitely be checking out AJJ, the band formerly known as Andrew Jackson Jihad, live someday in the future.