Jersey Calling has released their new album Parasocial Security on all digital streaming platforms on 11/1/2023, and despite being from Jersey, it’s a kick ass collection of pop punk rockage! (Just kidding—Jersey’s okay…”if you like saxaphones”!). Okay enough of me making with the jokes lets get to the review:

I’ve selected four songs off their new release to look:

1. “Gods and Cowboys” -  This is a rad punk tune with some dope riffage and a big chorus that could be from a Green Day album or even a Motley Crüe or dare I say it…Bon Jovi. Lyrically the title is on point:  This song uses western frontier and biblical imagery to highlight issues of misuse of power, exploitation, and societal discord. The repeated call to "Prepare a sacrifice" seems to signify the need for individuals or society to confront and address the consequences of their actions at “the market price” which is often the highest price on the menu (also unspecified just as in this song).

2. “Twisted Paradigm” - Oh okay…this time we have dual vocals singing both in harmony together and also in call and response. One is female and the other is male. This is a real catchy piece of punk rock that even my parents would dig because it's so singable.  Lyrically the song explores the complexities of love, the shifts in perception that can occur in a relationship, and the necessity of letting go when faced with challenges or when the relationship has run its course. This just goes to show that the world can never have enough pop punk love songs because this one is great.

3. “Content” - As a drummer, I always dig a drum intro! We get more double vocals but both male and one seems to have an effect on it. Solid interplay back and forth into another big chorus with the female vocals coming back. Love the bridge with the solo female vocals. The “Yoh”! at the end reminds me of Greg Graffin’s “Wacho” in Bad Religion songs. At first I thought the song title was content (as in the contents of that box), but after listening, I quickly realized it was content (as in I’m content with what I have). Now that that’s cleared up, the songs seems to express the tension between personal fulfillment and external expectations, particularly in the context of fame, attention, and the commercialized nature of the music industry. I feel them grappling with potential sacrifices made for success and the challenge of staying authentic in the face of public scrutiny. It reminds me a little of songs that were on Against Me!’s Searching for a Former Clarity.

4. “Hasta Luego” is the fastest of the four songs and also has some killer horns not to mention more than one blazing guitar solo. Some of the vocals are more gruff and others are just as melodic. Definitely my favorite song of the bunch. Lyrically the song tells the tale of a young boy whose mom scoodily pooped with a man from the future, so that he could one day lead the rebellion against an evil robot army run by Skynet. What? That’s wrong? Fine. Okay it’s about saying fuck you to all the bastards that have kept you down. We let you hold us down long enough, now it’s time for us to rise up united in our opposition to the stranglehold you’ve held on us all. Fuck yeah.

   Check out the full album on Spotify or one of their singles (can you guess which?) on my punk playlist full of bangers.

   Also check out their socials: FB, IG, Website

   Need a song reviewed or playlisted? Contact me using the link below (Keep in mind, I only review bands I actually like; you can go elsewhere for insincere or negative reviews.)

   sbmt.to/dcxpc-live

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   No tapes and no CDs, I can’t play either of them.