Charlotte, N.C.'s Leisure McCorkle released his fourth album, titled "Jet Set Baby," on Nov. 5 on MoRisen Records. This is his second full-length release but the first to generate a major buzz outside of Charlotte. He played a show last Sat. at the Red Light Cafe in Atlanta as part of his album promotion tour.
"Jet Set Baby" is a unique addition to the indie/pop scene. While not everyone will love it, its upbeat sounds and unique melange of influences will be sure to hold the interest of a wide audience. And it serves the important purpose of being the absolute antithesis of the dreary nu-metal so prevalent in our modern age. (In fact, if "Jet Set Baby" and a Puddle of Mud album were to touch one another, a thermonuclear reaction could conceivably take place.) If good old-fashioned ballad (although certainly not power ballad) rock is your thing, you will love this release. It is a seemingly incongruous mix of a '70s top-40 rock sound-something like Springsteen, Dan Fogleberg and Fireball-blended with early '90s Tex-Mex rock like the Refreshments. The lyrics are very emo (all about ex-girlfriends and getting drunk) sounding as though they were pulled straight from an MxPx or Juliana Theory album. Add this to Leisure's Elvis Costello-esque vocals, and you have a sound that not very many people have had the privilege of listening to.
The opening track, "She Can't Count the Stars," is the most fun and is immediately reminiscent of "Thunder Road" or something else your parents listened to (this qualifier applies to traditional-aged students only). The album slowly progresses through the '70s-style stuff. Two or three inexplicably strange songs follow here. Then, about two-thirds of the way through, come a few sadder, Jack Daniels-driven tracks such as "Alcohol" and Blum's Lullaby," obviously borrowing from the Gin Blossoms (another underappreciated early '90s western rock band). Interspersed towards the end are a few of the more predictable ballads. "Jet Set Baby" is a fun album, but unfortunately it's unlikely to sell very many copies. Do yourself a favor and listen to it at a record store. Try it; you might like it.