Love and Latitude, the debut full length CD from Brooklyn-based indie rock band
Jerkwater, is an exceedingly tuneful mix of wistful, melancholy jangle pop with a distinctly '80s-era Athens, GA, flair. In fact, this record could easily stand proudly in the company of the best work from Let's Active,
Guadalcanal Diary, or
Love Tractor. Unlike the aforementioned bands, however,
Jerkwater has no trace of punk angst, and the group's breezy sound and clever, smirking lyrics prevent it from becoming a nostalgia act. Sonically, the album is exquisitely airy and transparent; producer/engineer Jacques Cohen (
Mercury Rev) does a beautiful job of capturing
Jerkwater's nuances. The recordings here are of a gentle nature, only really rocking full throttle on "Call Waiting" (which wouldn't sound out of place on a Smithereens record) and the
Archers of Loaf-like "Heart Attack Station." Overall, Love and Latitude is an extremely promising effort from a band that has managed to inject new life into an old genre with generous helpings of craft, wit, and style. ~ Pemberton Roach