Hologram Jams

Jaguar Love | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 2, 2010)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Fat Possum
• ASIN: B0034KOUR2
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #243,836 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. I Started A Fire

2. Polaroids and Red Wine

3. Cherry Soda

4. Don t Die Alone

5. Up All Night

6. Jaguar Warriors

7. Everything Is Awesome

8. Evaline

9. Sad Parade

10. A Prostitute An Angel

11. Freak Out

Editorial Reviews

Blood Brothers may have betrayed their blood oath by breaking up, but the spirit of that raucous Seattle act lives on in Jaguar Love.

A duo, Jaguar Love is comprised of ex-Blood Brothers Johnny Whitney (vocals, piano) and Cody Votolato (guitar, bass). Having already caught the eye of Queens of the Stone Age, who took them on tour for a spell last year, Jaguar Love have since inspired the folks at Matador Records, who released one album and an EP, as well as Fat Possum Records, who have signed them to a worldwide deal.

The John Goodmanson-produced sophomore full-length will arrive in early March on Fat Possum Records. And while there are no finalized plans for Jaguar Love to stalk music-loving prey on the road right now, the band promises "Endless Amounts of Touring".

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Difficult, but amazing, March 22, 2010

By 

Jason Harrington "Trucker Hater Magazine" (Little Rock, AR) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Hologram Jams (Audio CD)

As with the now defunct Blood Brothers, Johnny Whitney once again seems perfectly content to carve out his own niche based on a singular vision of progressing his own shrieking avante-guarde post-punk farther into indie/synth-pop territory. Where the Blood Brothers were floating between the hardcore and indie scenes, and unable to fully be cleared for landing among those fanbase, Jaguar Love boldly makes the decision to turn it's back on the so-called hardcore scene, and boldly venture forth into the land of drum-machine-rock.

With the huge influx of groups trying to incorporate 80's retro ideas into their music, it's no small feat the way Whitney's trademark howl completely lays to wake any notion of these two former Blood Brothers treading down any well worn paths whatsoever. For one thing, their Wiki page touts the influence of "baroque pop," which is a literal reference to the clavichord-driven music of the Baroque era. That is a seriously insane idea in modern music, to foster such an un-heard-of pre-20th century genre that has no clear connection to contemporary music whatsoever.

Mainly, the end result of Jaguar Love's insane mash of synthesizers, drum machines, post-punk angular guitar riffing, wailing and cooing vocal madness, is when it all comes together to sound sort of like Fugazi beating up Prince, or The Faint swallowing Iggy Pop. It seems to be mostly a war between punk and electro, except whole songs venture into completely uncharted territory altogether, where we get to see how odd and unique Whitney's vocal style truly is, as this duo attempt to shove that nasal-meets-falsetto vocal into segments of their sound that have a more traditional Western-pop chord structure.

Those who were not immediately turned off by Neon Blonde, will most likely at least give this album five listens before forming their opinion. However, this time Whitney seems to have completely thrown caution to the wind, abandoned the idea that any of these songs should sound like Blood Brother's leftovers, and amazingly managed to get the videos and singles into rotation in the indie rock outlets as a result. I would never guess that any of Whitney's projects would be opening for Nine Inch Nails or Minus the Bear, but this is a just reward for two musicians who have stuck to their guns since day one, paid their dues, and done everything based on sound ethics (even down to a bio-diesel tour bus, and printing all their shirts on American Apparel).

Bravo to these two for a major achievement. Give yourself some time to digest this, because this kind of music has never really been made before. There is nothing comfortable here, even though Whitney has written some of the strongest hooks of his life, resting atop a compositional pile of textures and tone colors. In a word, brilliant.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This album is so crazy......and so good, March 2, 2010

By 

D. Waldron "Davos" (Anchorage, AK) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hologram Jams (Audio CD)

I wouldn't expect anything else from Johhny Whitney. It is super glammy, synthy and over the top. And yet it is really polished and amazing. Similar to the last album, but even more eccentric, and I think even better.

He also stays true to his Blood Brother roots. There is plenty of angsty, aggressive goodness on here. It is just more of a pop album.

Imagine you are at a dance party where in the final song, everyone's head simultaneously explodes. In a good way.

Johnny, you are the man. Keep it up......

5.0 out of 5 stars JAGUAR LOVE, July 7, 2010

By 

Miles Bottomley (Seattle) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hologram Jams (Audio CD)

I still remember the first time I heard Johney Whitney's vocals and thinking they were shrill, abrasive, and just plain annoying. But then I gave the whole CD a listen, and I haven't looked back since. It's definitely an acquired taste.

As for Jaguar Love, I like this second CD even more than their first. I think the new electronic-ish background music fits even better with Whitney. I'm sure the next CD will be completely different again, and I can't wait.

Favorite songs: I Started a Fire, Cherry Soda, Don't Die Alone, Evaline, and Jaguar Warriors