Pissed Jeans have never been a band to shy away from their unambiguous and chaotic style. Since the release of their debut Shallows in 2005, the Pennsylvanian hardcore punk quartet have been setting their sights and sarcastically spitting on the frustrating and miserable constituent parts that make up the concept we call ‘everyday life’, doing so by combining elements of punk and grunge to emphasise this elusive disarray that the listener experiences. On their four previous LPs, the best of which was 2009’s King Of Jeans, Matt Korvette’s vocals, although occasionally incoherent, are strangely addictive and likeable. In addition, Randy Huth’s crunchy bass tones gave their music the required tenacity. Their latest offering Why Love Now is no exception.

Opening track ‘Waiting On My Horrible Warning’ is a sludgy, bass-pumping introduction that is unlike anything Pissed Jeans has ever written. The song discusses the constituent part of ‘everyday life’ that certainly younger people fear the most – old age. Korvette’s vocals personifies this fact as he seems to induce himself into the role of a temperamental elderly person remembering the freedom of the younger days. But then he waits for his “terminal deficiency” and his “children to visit”.

The single ‘The Bar Is Low’, as described by Korvette, is about how “how every guy seems to be revealing themselves as a shithead”. Huth’s growling bass is intoxicating throughout and Sean McGuinesses’ drumming works harmoniously well with the bass. On the other hand, the main guitar riff from Brad Fry is disappointingly generic and lightweight that leaves no everlasting afterthought. The other single ‘Ignorecam’ is a more sluggish track with chugging guitar and bass that can be compared to likes of Mudhoney; a critical influence. The song also gives light to the nature of the band’s humour as the song, quoted by Korvette, is “guys paying to be ignored” over cameras online; an anti-realistic approach using the band’s sarcasm.

‘Love Without Emotion’ veers slightly from the blueprints that makes up this album. The edginess of this song has been trimmed ever so carefully so that the soul principle of Pissed Jeans is not overlooked. Thus, ‘Love Without Emotion’ is the most lucid track on this LP and the theatrical guitar riff boosts the listener’s concentration as they delve into the second half. Before the second half there’s ‘I’m A Man’, a two-and-a-half-minute provocative monologue by a woman disgusted by sexism in the workplace. The rebellious language is stimulating; none of which I will quote, as it wouldn’t be a surprise otherwise. This is all brilliant but also obsolete; it could have easily led onto another song but doesn’t.

The rest of the second half is generally pleasurable but with a few little hiccups here and there. One particular hiccup is the plagiarised guitar riff that seemed to have been taken directly from the track ‘Hooch’ by The Melvins (off their fifth record Houdini). In addition, the penultimate, bass-heavy but also quite tedious ‘Activia’ lacks any sense of direction. However, Korvette demonstrates on songs ‘Have You Ever Been Furniture’ and the closing track ‘Not Even Married’ that vocal unsophistication is sometimes the best way forward, and it the album intensely with all the band members coming together as they let loose their paramount efforts to end the album on a high note.

In retrospect, this album has the compulsory spirit of previous entries, and the band have kept to their usual style of songwriting. Conversely, there are some musical potholes; some of which are bigger than others. Why Love Now is nowhere near perfection but is nonetheless listenable. (6/10) (Harry Beynon)

Listen to Why Love Now here via Spotify, and tell us what you think below!