This is one of our most exciting finds of 2009. The Jaguar Club may not be a big name yet, but they deserve the spotlight and are poised to make a big splash with the release of their first album And We Wake Up Slowly.
Based in Brooklyn, this group of regular guys makes rock ‘n roll that feels modern, even as it references older sounds. Singer Will Popadic’s vocals seem inspired by the likes of David Byrne, and reviewers continue to name-check The Smiths.
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The best place to start with The Jaguar Club is their single Sleepwalking (right-click for the free mp3 download).
Your next step should be to check them out live – they’re on tour now. Here’s a shot of them live at NYC’s Mercury Lounge last month.
Will Popadic of The Jaguar Club performs at Mercury Lounge in New York
REVIEW OF REVIEWS
When we first heard this song we were like, “Okay, cool, it opens with guitar feedback, always a good look.” Then the bass line started–a chunky stumble down the fretboard–and we thought, “Guess these dudes aren’t playing around.” Finally the drums came in, the verse started, and we kind of coasted until 1:47, when the word “growing” gets belched so wildly we were finally sold. Brooklyn’s The Jaguar Club won’t be winning any band name awards, but their rusty, Smiths-gleaning garage rock (people have been calling them new wave, but that’s frankly inaccurate) has been one of our better random finds.
TRACKLIST1. And We Wake Up Slowly
2. Sleepwalking
3. Where No Wild Things Are
4. Corks Pop
5. Future Sounds
6. Blood Pressure
7. This Summer
8. Out of the City
9. Antarctica
10. In the Leaves
11. Perfect Timing
BEST SHOTS
