Pissed Jeans - Honeys

Some artists inspire people to write in-depth ‘think pieces’. Some serve to make a point, politically or socially; some are zeitgeist-grabbing opportunists. Others purely want to have fun. And be loud.

If the name hadn’t tipped you off, Pissed Jeans live comfortably as that last one, feet kicked up, chugging a cold one - and periodically yelling at the TV. Over three albums, the Pennsylvania ensemble have played music in the vein of hardcore SST bands - Black Flag are the usual suspects shackled to the Jeans’ name - but unlike them, forego any political content in their lyrics: previous albums have featured frontman Matt Kosloff howling about scrapbooking, personal ads and the healing power of ice cream. On ‘Honeys’, there’s ‘Cafeteria Food’ and the disparity between peoples’ online and ‘real-life’ personas (‘You’re Different (In Person)’)

What Pissed Jeans do have in common with Greg Ginn’s old gang - besides the occasional slow slide in to sludge rock (as on the second half of ‘Chain Worker’) - is the (stay with us) struggle with modern ideas of masculinity.

‘Honeys’ is a fun record, and a funny record, and some of that comes from Kosloff’s self-deprecation. He’s a regular, blue-collar working guy (who happens to be signed to Sub Pop). When a crazy person blocks his route to the toilet, he doesn’t confront him - but writes an angry song about it. He’s insecure romantically, and pleads for someone to ‘Take all my faults / And twist them in your head / Until I look like a sweet and thoughtful man.’

Pissed Jeans are loud, they’re angry; they’re buoyant, they’re funny; they’re introspective and melancholic. They’re totally original, and of their time. They might actually be geniuses.