With their debut album even in jest, Cheerbleederz have delivered a punky, honest and candid record that sees the band truly embracing their DIY spirit. It’s a raucous, exhilarating and garage-rock indebted effort that wastes no time in leaving an impression.
Delivering on the hype that’s been building since February, even in jest lives up to all its expectations. The record frankly examines the stresses of modern life against a backdrop of raw instrumentation and sees the band in their creative element.
Bearing the influence of other female-fronted bands like The Breeders and Sleater-Kinney, the record embodies the grittiness of punk revivalism in its attitude, and modernises the sound with playful lyricism.
Minimalist and distorted chord progressions form the backdrop for many of the tracks and are often the driving force behind their inescapable urgency. Opener, ‘break ur arm’ sets the tone for its following tracks with its scratchy guitar riff, stripped back instrumentation and attitude- drenched lyrics that ponder the satisfaction of breaking someone’s arm (we’ve all done that, right?).
The album finds strength in its tight production too; eight of the album’s ten tracks stop short of the three-and-a-half-minute mark, which creates a fidgety and energetic feel to the record as a whole. The mix drives you to listen more intently as the tracks flow by, adding to the album’s raw insistency. The joy the London-based trio feel is evident right through the album, with the general air of satisfaction seeping into every corner of the record.
even in jest‘s confrontational lyrical content keeps the attention the instrumentation grabs and, whether it’s the lack of self-satisfaction explored on ‘out of body’, the intrinsic self-doubt that’s examined on ‘nail biters’, or the heartbreak analysis present on ‘notes app apologies’ it doesn’t shy away from getting its points heard.
The lyrics, while poignant and meaningful, are often delivered with the band’s tongues against their cheeks, as if conveying the idea that problems can often begin to be dealt with in the context of a joke. This approach seems to link back to the album’s apparent commitment to voice and alleviate the frustrations felt in wider society.
While the album’s neon moments are often provided by the no-holes-bared approach to instrumentation, the record is not without its delicate moments. ‘love/hurt’, for example provides the LP with its most pop-friendly moment. Coming in the middle of the track list, it acts as an interval between the chaos that flanks it. Similarly, ‘pinwheel’ – which closes the album – showcases a similar approach to its sound and exhibits one of record’s less incendiary moments. Delicate vocals and clean guitars form the foundation of the tune while the odd bite of distortion throw fuel on the embers, reminding you you’re still listening to an attitude-laden punk record.
The group’s commitment to stick to their DIY guns, along with their innate ability to tackle often avoided subjects in such an accessible way, cements their debut album’s cultural relevance in a scene oh-so-overpopulated with forgettable sounds.