Band of the Week: Jaguar Love

[September 8 - 14]
Jaguar Love
Sounds Like: Art-Punk / Experimental
Drinking Buddies: Foxy Shazam, Bear vs. Shark, The Receiving End Of Sirens
Synopsis: Quirky, vivacious post-hardcore.
Makes You Want To...: Clap your hands; Dance; Sing.
[Myspace]




One week, one band. You know the drill.
This week, the featured artist is Jaguar Love.



Of course, if you've been keeping track of the fusillade of articles Voilà! has been spewing out, we've been looking at some wonderful bands that quit. Whilst thoroughly complimenting the folks of Pretty Girls Make Graves, I did mention one of the latest bands to form in the wake of this giant happened to have a two-word name. One of animals, and one of a noun. Granted, that could be said about Wolf Parade too, but I digress. As I said last Saturday, with the old comes the new, and we are looking toward the future!

And here the future lies, musically oriented into the disorienting, eclectic and intriguing sound of Jaguar Love. This delectable dish of musical mystery is easy to make, in fact: take one part musical entrepreneur (Johnny Whitney), one part Pretty Girls Make Graves (Jay Clark), and mix with one two parts Blood Brothers (including Cody Votolato), and you get the tasty, twisted sounds of Jaguar Love.

Now, if you were a fan of Blood Brothers, you probably know of all the bands that sprung up from the reputable band. But while there is plenty of new sounds springing up from the past musical giants, Jaguar Love seems to show the most promise. While Neon Blonde busies itself with deranged (I mean that in a good way) electronica, Head Wound City thrashes and blares about, and Soiled Doves... well, as Last.fm would have you believe, Spazzcores, Jaguar Love has set up a unique style of experimental art punk, which is like a blended concoction of tasty candy for the ears.

Despite all these food references, there is something to be said about Jaguar Love's style. Past influence is what they're all about, of course, with members all from previous icons of the music scene. The rhythms are steady, and the melody eclectic, drawing from PGMG, while the lyrics and singing style from Johnny Whitney remain unique and inventive. It's a strange, inventive injection that Jaguar Love has prescribed their patients, and they add a unique style, and a strange glamour to their performances.

Jaguar Love sprung up as Johnny Whitney's side project pre-break up for Blood Brothers, and ever since, have gotten their feet off the ground and are sailing sirenely toward success. They have been signed to Matador Records - somewhat picturesque - the old home of Pretty Girls Make Graves - and have released their first full length LP, Take Me To The Sea, three weeks ago in August! Fresh off the presses, this sexy album has already received some great reviews, and has some nice tunes to boot.

Now, Jaguar Love is touring with old Voilà! favourites, Polysics, and are making their rounds about the North American continent. They'll be on tour til November, where you'll no doubt be able to snag their old self-titled EP. They've also recently have been involved in certain SPIN magazine articles, amongst others, so be on the look out for these high rising stars. And of course, how can I forget their Myspace? If I could stop listening to "Bonetrees and a Broken Heart," I'd tell you more, faithful reader. But until then, have a wonderful week, and we'll see you this weekend for one last [Ex]Band of the Week.