Eric Tischler has made a career out of pairing indie rock bombast with socio-political themes, often delivering albums in a conceptual rock opera format. As the frontman and creative force behind Washington, D.C. power trio
the Jet Age, he's made no bones about his political views and, following 2014's more light-hearted homage, Jukebox Memoir, he's back on the stump (mostly) with his band's sixth album,
Destroy. Rebuild. While not another concept album, Tischler has been quoted as saying "It’s been another shitty year in America, another year where I get to really wonder what the hell I’ve gotten my kids into," and his concerns certainly inform a number of the songs on this loose but electrified set. The powerful "I Can't Breathe" was written in response to the controversial 2014 death of Eric Garner in New York and the Ferguson, Missouri riots. His discouragement over the 2014 midterm elections also lies heavily in the background as he tries in vain to remain optimistic on the pensively grungy downer "In Time All I Want Will Cease." Troubled also by the dissolution of several relationships going on among his friends, he tackles divorce on tracks like "It Always Starts with a Bang" and the jangly, surprisingly upbeat album highlight "Who Will I Sing This Song For?" It's heavy stuff, for sure, but not all is lost, as Tischler takes stock of what matters in his life on "Don't Make a Sound" and "I Wrote You This Song," two songs which he wrote for his family and wife, respectively. Also belying the maudlin nature of many of the tracks is the freewheeling abandon with which he, bassist Greg Bennett, and drummer Pete Nuwayser attack their music. Under a film of lo-fi scuzz, they enthusiastically tear their way through shoegaze textures, shambling '90s indie rock, and an ever-present indulgence of
Who-like theatrics. Ultimately,
Destroy. Rebuild is no great departure from the styles and themes
the Jet Age has doled out since forming in 2005, but it's another solid outing showing plenty of vigor and confidence in their own skin. ~ Timothy Monger