EP REVIEW: The Four Before – Jetski
Social media can be a parasitic monster, keeping us glued to our phones no matter what. Ever since the lockdowns in 2020 and 2021, where all we had left of human connection was the online world, it has become little wonder that many people have been struggling with the separation between the real and online world. For Charles Fitzgerald, frontman of Sheffield alt-rock quartet JETSKI, his decision to try to step back from his social media usage inspired the band’s new single Valentine, and now they build on that with the release of their new four-track EP, The Four Before.
Toneblerone features New Jersey rock band CAN’T SWIM and the high energy rock song provides the perfect start to the EP. It is catchy and the feature doesn’t distract from JETSKI‘s own talent, while the production ensures that neither the instruments nor the vocals overwhelm one another. The energy mellows a little on S66, which slows the EP down a bit, but it remains a good chance to show a more mid-tempo side to the band. The song is another fun and catchy one, even if it isn’t quite as good as the opener.
The band might not hit all the right notes on this EP, but it is consistently strong. Whether it is the fast-paced acoustic-turned rock song Valentine, or the experimental closer Vanborghini, JETSKI take it all in their stride. Most importantly they have a lot of fun throughout it all and they clearly have a lot of passion that bleeds into this record. This is especially clear in the aforementioned Vanborghini which is the shortest song on the EP and closes things out with an extended instrumental solo that feels like a celebration of the band as musicians.
Overall, JETSKI have hit the ground running in 2024 and whilst The Four Before might not be completely perfect, it is pretty close. The band have crafted a fun, energetic EP that takes twists and turns and manages to show off loads of passion in just four songs. JETSKI have already begun to make their mark on rock music, and it is clear that this is still just the start for them.
Rating: 8/10
The Four Before is out now via self-release.
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