No, this isn't a concept album about the cult TV show of the same name. The band is big in Australia—will that translate to success elsewhere?
The Jezabels - Prisoner (2011) – 7.4 / 10.0
Mom + Pop Music
Prisoner, the debut album from the four-piece rock band the Jezabels, is already a hit in Australia, and I still don’t know if that’s a point in favor of the Jezabels or not. On the one hand, the band already has a large fanbase and has the numbers to prove it, prompting this international release to begin with. On the other hand, Australians like cheese and pickle sandwiches. I mean no disrespect towards any of our Australian readers (both of you), but most of the world prefer to put different things on their sandwiches, like peanut butter, or jelly, or Miracle Whip, or not pickles.
The thrilling opening track immediately sets everything right while also giving a hint as to Prisoner’s most telling issue. It begins with chamber music, then moves to chugging indie pop, and finishes with the scent of indie rock. It’s all very well done, but it’s hard to focus on an idea when so many get crammed into one song. The regular version of this album is also a bit too long, and with the three bonus tracks added for the American release (all tracks that could have easily been sequenced into the album proper), I’m tempted to recommend Adderall and Jenny Craig to Prisoner.
The sound needs work and direction, but the band is mostly on the right track. They leave no doubt about their technical abilities, and there are more hits on the album than duds. Prisoner is a fun album that hints at the start of a great career.
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