A strong debut from a band who bring a fresh take to the genre and its themes.
The amount of acrimony and infighting that goes on in bands is proof enough that the members are often anything but friends, but that’s certainly not the case with Jesus The Dinosaur. The Boston based band describe themselves as five longtime best friends making music together; in fact, lead vocalist Tommy Ng, who is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, has said of the band that their “chemistry is everything” and, given the intrinsically intimate nature of making music, they wisely made sure that everyone had space to express themselves during the making their debut album Nothing to the Branches.
As far as the subject of how society perceives us goes, the tender but powerful Agender finds Ng questioning the label of masculinity that was placed upon them, opening with the simple confession “I wish I could’ve chosen something else / Instead of being chosen for by everybody else” before going on to wonder “if I was supposed to be your man, then who is he?”. The indie-pop leaning Empty Space is all about being alone and doing your own thing as they wish for a place “Outside of time” and “Endlessly open wide”. Guitarist Hannah Foxman takes a turn on lead vocals on Can’t Say, a piece of dreamy, bedroom-pop about living with bad roommates.
Anyone who has ever felt uncomfortable during a social gathering will find Sweet Nothings is infinitely relatable, Ng speaking of “pulling this candy rope from out of [their] throat” to try and desperately appease the pressure for conversation. The melodic yet expansive Looking for a Way Out and Lifetime, respectively, reflect on the aftermath of leaving a bad relationship and the desire to do anything to keep another person happy, no matter how long that takes.
Not Ur Boy, with some rough, indie-rock fuzziness to its production, is a powerful reflection of Ng’s journey growing up and exploring their own gender identity, as they state “It’s not that I am that girl but I’m not your boy”. Miss My Friend is sparse, intimate and sad as Ng longs for someone they once knew so well, while the gentle album closer Resentment finds them trying to learn and grow from past mistakes: “I’m letting go of you again / This trouble I’m in / Means nothing to the branches / Regenerating leaves.”
The number of bands emerging today seems to be dwindling, so it’s heartening to see one like Jesus The Dinosaur starting out and doing so so strongly. It’s something of a mystery why there are a slew of solo artists these days over traditional groups, but maybe it’s partly to avoid the petty squabbles and disagreements that have brought so many great acts of the past to a close. So if you’re thinking of starting a band, friendship might be the best thing to build on because, as Jesus The Dinosaur proves, chemistry is everything.
