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Why Jet Don’t Suck: Good Songs, Slash

12/11/06, 4:26 pm EST

JetWe really want to hate Jet. Their preening macho dude rock is so seeped in its influences it feels parodic (and they seem like bullies who pulled the wings off flies as children). But the problem with disliking Jet is that they’re really good. Not only are their albums good (first better than the second, but no surprise there) but their singles are great and always convince us, for four seconds or so, that we’re hearing some lost AC/DC/Stones hybrid from the mid-70s. Even those of us who struggle to loathe the band would have wanted to be at Spaceland in L.A. last night, when they played an ostensibly mellow-ish, semi-acoustic set that evolved into a guest-star-studded late night bacchanal that’s undoubtedly responsible in some as-of-yet undocumented way for Nicole Ritchie being found driving the wrong way on the freeway, high, at four in the morning.

Soul singers the Waters Sisters sang backup for the band on “Shine On,” and Chris Robinson also made an appearance performing an unexpectedly clever medley of Jet’s “Eleanor” and the Ronettes’ “Be My Baby.” Robinson also apparently appeared with Sex Pistols’ guitarist Steve Jones for a rendition of the Faces’ “Miss Judy’s Farm.” And that’s cool, but it’s not nearly as cool as Slash climbing onstage to perform the Rolling Stones’ “Salt Of The Earth” with the band. The show finale consisted of a Bono-worthy collaborative cover with everyone singing/playing the Faces “Ohh La La.”

How is it that Jet have such juice? Do they deserve it?


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Comments

Jay | 12/11/2006, 4:46 pm EST

Jet suck ass and so does whoever joins them onstage.

Am I surprised Chris “I Got Nothing Else Going On” Robinson and Slash- whose last gig was a Volkswagon commercial- joined the band on stage.

Oh yes.

Charlene M. | 12/11/2006, 4:56 pm EST

I’d have to agree with this article and I think Jet deserves some juice.

My friend made me see Jet with her at Irving Plaza in September and I was reluctant. But I couldn’t help but be amazed at their live set. Their hits, even though have been played out, are pretty good. And they kinda stay outta the light and let the music speak for themselves. No lame outlash on their haters… ahem… unlike The Killers. There are definitely gonna be haters, but if people give them a chance, then I can see more people saying… “They aren’t that bad.”

Scotty Checkbooks | 12/11/2006, 5:04 pm EST

Dude! Did everyone forget the forgettable show they put on openning up for Oasis at the Garden this year? I mean, c’mon! My band, Wolves of Flatbush are way better than they are! NOTHING stands out about them except people wanting to forget about how bad rock needs A GOOD BAND now.. Steve Jones – You dissapoint me, dude… You could make it up to me by letting my band play live on your radio show!

Krantus | 12/11/2006, 5:06 pm EST

Jet is quite underrated, especially since they don’t rely on cheap tricks to get in the news. They just let their music do the talking, and it says quite a lot.

Leroy | 12/11/2006, 5:13 pm EST

i’ll be at the JET show on Sun. Dec. 17th in St. Louis! and i’m looking forward to seeing them live, i anticipate a killer show and i’m sure i wont be disappointed, when JET put their money where their mouth is!!!

Shelley | 12/11/2006, 5:28 pm EST

Jet strike me as Australia’s answer to The Trews (or vice versa depending on which band has been around longer), only with more ill-advised ballads. With that said, I turn up the radio when one of their songs comes on. I just don’t play the CD much anymore.

hax!! | 12/11/2006, 5:31 pm EST

hacks!!! their all hacks!!! Just because it’s a good take on an old riff doesn’t mean it’s rock’n'roll.
Especially if it’s a party with Nicole Ritchie!!!!!!

I’m sure Keith Richards would destroy elizabeth goodman if he reads this article!!

jungleland | 12/11/2006, 5:35 pm EST

I don’t know why anyone would give JET a hard time. They write good songs, have good influences, they can play, they can sing, they can sound like Badfinger (ok A LOT like Badfinger)Reminds me of the The Black Crowes when they first came out…or Lenny Kravitz or Jellyfish or Oasis…two albums in they are doing just fine, even with their influences on their sleeves. Glad Steve, Slash and Chris were there to jam and be fans.

J. Tincher | 12/11/2006, 5:43 pm EST

Jay, you suck ass

Richard | 12/11/2006, 5:53 pm EST

There should be a place in rock n roll for all kinds, and JET should be no exception.

They’re a fun, good time rock n roll band, and since when is there anything wrong with that?

ClownShoes | 12/11/2006, 5:54 pm EST

I agree, Jet are brutal. I also saw them live opening for Oasis and they were awful…it was like a high school talent show.

daniel moore | 12/11/2006, 6:07 pm EST

another beatle band in a long line of beatle bands.beatles forever

Liam Gallagher | 12/11/2006, 6:11 pm EST

Not too shabby. They’ve got some good tunes.

JT | 12/11/2006, 6:12 pm EST

They’re still bad :(

scott | 12/11/2006, 6:17 pm EST

yes, they’ve got good influences…Bush, Creed, Fuel, and Nickelback have good influences too. That doesn’t mean anything. And while the music to their songs is moderately catchy, listen to their LYRICS. They make Brandon Flowers look clever. They’re not awful, but they’re just middle of the road, generic, mediocre party rockers with nothing worthwhile to say.

ed vedder | 12/11/2006, 6:20 pm EST

I met them recently at a benefit concert. Cool guys, horible 2nd record.

ed vedder | 12/11/2006, 6:20 pm EST

“horrible” sorry.

Babylon | 12/11/2006, 6:33 pm EST

Jet are a shadow of the band they ought to be. They are already copping readymade attitudes and expectations, all that is required are memorable tunes but they still come up short.

Rob | 12/11/2006, 6:37 pm EST

Ive been to a Jet show and have both their albums: they are a great band, everyone on this blog that thinks they are high and mighty for hating them need to get a fucking life

Chuck | 12/11/2006, 6:58 pm EST

I’ve been a big fan of JET since they started up, despite usually being the person to rag on such bands. I just think they are so fun and good at what they. You don’t listen to JET to find the meaning life, or even to hear somethin new…the whole point is they are rocking out an homage to the old school sounds. That’s the point, and it’s fun. You just have to relax and enjoy music again and stop thinking too hard.

joe | 12/11/2006, 7:23 pm EST

Jet DOES suck

mikey | 12/11/2006, 7:26 pm EST

umm are ed vedder and liam gallagher actually posting on this?
or whoever wrote the liam gallagher thing has an incredible sense of humor, since Jet tend to rip off oasis
oh yea and… jet kinda suck
you guys can go on listening to your mindless classic rock derivatives
if you actually want to hear i guess you’d call it “modern classic rock” give my morning jacket or the new pornographers a try

jill hives | 12/11/2006, 7:43 pm EST

their music is quite testicular.

whip | 12/11/2006, 7:58 pm EST

Give the Black Keys a try. Greatest Rock and Roll Band on Earth. Well, them and the Kings of Leon

Mike27 | 12/11/2006, 8:03 pm EST

This Elizabeth goodman bashing is just getting old – sorry, but get a life!

readytorock | 12/11/2006, 8:49 pm EST

Goodman hates real macho rock. What a surpise.

rockstrsbaby678 | 12/11/2006, 9:00 pm EST

It’s about time ONE band is making success off of music like theirs. Bring back the AC/DC-quality songs. and since when has dude-rock been bad? FLY ON JET. FLY ON.

blanonymous | 12/11/2006, 9:04 pm EST

jet…hmmmm….
i actually want to like jet. my problem isn’t their lack of originality, it’s their lack of ideas. i mean, that song “look what you’ve done” takes a lyric from the beatles’ “sexy sady” and puts it over a chord progression that is damn near xeroxed form the same source.
a majority of their first record sounded EXACTLY like the second side of AC/DC’s “back in black” to a point that far surpasses being “influenced” by someone….

so yeah….i’d love to like jet, i just wish they’d write their own songs already. the world is dying for a good time, loud, rude, boozy party band, but said band needs to have the tunes….

alit_yg_tegap2itu | 12/11/2006, 9:04 pm EST

Read the news y’all. Slash was there, Steve was there, and chris was there, and theyre all jammin’ with JET, so that leaves no oom for all you m’fuckin’ haters

LIK ROPER | 12/11/2006, 11:46 pm EST

i can’t believe i’m on the same blog as eddie vedder…no way…

alfie | 12/11/2006, 11:48 pm EST

way!

Trance | 12/12/2006, 12:00 am EST

boner munch

john | 12/12/2006, 12:05 am EST

SLASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mitch | 12/12/2006, 12:19 am EST

Jet may not be orginal but they beat the hell out of any emo or indie band out there

DJ Diddles | 12/12/2006, 12:33 am EST

Its funny how people say rock needs a good band right now. The Peppers and Pearl Jam are all right and Taking Back Sunday and Chiodos and My Chemical Romances the Black Parade kinda rocks as does anything the arctic monkeys do. just open your ears and listen

bernz | 12/12/2006, 12:45 am EST

Jets the bomb. we havent had a good band out of oz for ages.

Mm Hm | 12/12/2006, 12:47 am EST

Yeah right, Elizabeth Goodman. Trust your initial instinct on this one cuz Jet does blow pretty hard. See the Pitchfork review of their latest album. Hilarious!

Laurens from Indonesia | 12/12/2006, 2:05 am EST

Woohoo! Slash baby! Yeah!

Rory Letterbox | 12/12/2006, 2:06 am EST

Their good at what they do, a bit like T.Rex. Repetitive, classic rock based music, with lyrics that don’t really make sense, but dont need to. Also a bit like T.Rex, Jet kinda reminded everyone how sleazy, dirty, brainless and fun rock n’ roll could be. Personally im not a fan, but im not gunna jump on the popular ‘music snobbery bandwagon’ and dumbly knock what they do just to boost my ego.

led | 12/12/2006, 2:31 am EST

SLaSH IS GOD SLASH IS GOD

k | 12/12/2006, 4:15 am EST

jay is lame..

slash will always be awesome

Topher | 12/12/2006, 4:20 am EST

Jet are one of the most straight forward rock bands working today. It is true you hear their influences pop up everywhere within their songs but at least their influences include the Beatles, AC/DC, The Stones and Oasis. They are so much better than the Panic at the Disco covering Fallout Boy covering Taking Back Sunday crap. By the Way, saw Jet at 1077 The End’s Deck The Hall Ball and they seriously ripped it up.

rockstar 70 | 12/12/2006, 9:16 am EST

Jet Rocks….Slash rocks……………Where’s the problem.

ryan | 12/12/2006, 9:38 am EST

slash+gnr=just hair metal. its gay fuck that
as for jet, there all right a little queer at times

Dee | 12/12/2006, 10:40 am EST

I really like Jet alot..I would have loved to see Chris Robinson with them!! Great rock Lives on!!!!

Gwen | 12/12/2006, 11:30 am EST

Jet is a cool band! Playing with Slash?! Now I’m jealous

LIKROPER.COM | 12/12/2006, 11:47 am EST

it’s good to see a band of young hooligans rocking out like we did back the old days…jet is a little AC/DC-ish at times (ok alot, but who doesn’t love AC/DC?) but still a breath of fresh air regardless…i love the way the drummer smashes his crash-ride like bonzo did…

Matt | 12/12/2006, 12:15 pm EST

I was there – it was awesome. I was also at their first US show even (also at Spaceland) back in 2003 – which is why they did this show to begin with. Jet is a great sloppy rock n’ roll band – nothing more and nothing less. Slash is an amazing guitar player with his own signature sound, and Chris Robinson can really s-i-n-g, people tend to forget that. I am so sick and tired of idiots who feel the need who slag off on everything (poster “Jay” comes to mind). Jet is a rock n’ roll band – it’s really that simple. They do wear their influences on their sleeves – and they are honest about that. But – can anyone hear the first 5 seconds of “Cold Hard Bitch” without turning the volume up? Oh – and they played “Salt of teh Earth” my second favorite Stones song ever – which takes BALLS!
Newsflash: It’s okay to like a band, even if they are deemed “uncool” by the hipster police.

constantlytall | 12/12/2006, 12:43 pm EST

Actually Jay, Chris Robinson is just off of a fantastic tour with the Black Crowes and they’re currently working on a new album…

dakota | 12/12/2006, 12:56 pm EST

Jet is a living breathing Rock n Roll band. Some nights they can be great some nights just ok. That is how bands that don`t rely on background sequencing and dancers on stage are.What is the alternative? Listening to rap? Rap is nothing more than a bunch of miscreants bragging about their wieners and dissing women.

Killa | 12/12/2006, 1:31 pm EST

hATE THE GAME NOT THE PLAYA

noti | 12/12/2006, 3:42 pm EST

wow jet? is this really what the kids are liking today?

that sucks………

Benson | 12/13/2006, 9:32 am EST

Wait, you guys really like Jet…..?
Are you serious? Nothing personifies the terms vapid and souless better than Jet. Wow, guys…wow.

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