Album Review: Jet-Pack - Whisper in My Ear

For a University group, Cheltenham-based rock outfit Jet-Pack are cripplingly banal. ‘Whisper In My Ear’ reeks of the faux-American pop-rock which haunts our local pubs and bars the country over. It’s a shame because Jet-Pack show potential through their saving grace: frontman Dennis Cook, whose fantastic voice is only tainted by an overbearing transatlantic influence.

With that said, it’s hard to be so passively pejorative towards Jet-Pack’s music; it’s inordinately inoffensive. Opener ‘All the World’s A Stage’ attests to this with the first of five perfectly acceptable, yet tired and clichéd, pop-punk choruses. The banality of the song is recurrent throughout this EP, which is not helped by the polished production, as the core riffs which should lift the songs lack the bite which it is so desperately needs. As a result, Jet Pack’s debut sounds limp.

Whilst the EP may suffer from a drought of suitably affective and effective lyrics, the aforementioned Cook has a soaring voice which often sounds strikingly familiar to Stephen from Anberlin. This is both a testament to Cook’s vocal ability and his biggest flaw; whilst it is impressive, the makeshift accent and plain lyrics sound stoic in comparison to his American counterpart. ‘Salt of the Earth’ showcases this perfectly, as Cook croons “will you see what we’ve become in the morning light?” in a way that feels emulated rather than natural.

By going through the pop-punk motions, Jet-Pack struggle to make a lasting impression. It is cannon fodder for the long-oversaturated market.

2/5

'Whisper in My Ear' by Jet-Pack is available now.

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Alex Howick