Jump Starts - What Hides Inside (The Loud Label)(Record Release Show Off Broadway Nov 10)

St. Louis combo Jump Starts are back with the new LP, What Hides Inside (The Loud Label), which finds the duo seamlessly integrating their vocal interplay and minimalist pop expertise to create a clean sounding infectious batch of songs with varied musical influences.

So if you are asking is there anything different on this album than their debut album? Yes. The mid tempo country tinged "Written On Water" is a natural progression for their sound to take, and that sound comes easily for the duo.

There is also a bit harder edge on the post punk track "Last Time" which incorporate some of Justin's other band, Pretty Little Empire. It's great to hear that sound with Sarah singing the duel vocals.

The normal Jump Starts infectious hook pop songs are here in abundance, namely the head bobbing "Don't Need Much" which highlights how comfortable Sarah and Justin are with each others abilities. They have really made that vocal interplay the heart of what their music is.

Love the Latin flavored "Lord Who Knows". The guitar work and drumming is very effective. 

The overall sound on What Hides inside has added new musical flavors, country, Latin and post punk, without losing the tight identity that this Jump Starts duo has crafted. The hooks are always there with Justin's songs. This I can attest to as I have been lucky enough to hear some of his songs just after he has recorded them on his iphone. So that melody part is a given with Justin's songwriting. What Sarah and Justin have done is take that melody as a base and forge a sound where they each have even footing, the effect of which is evident with how memorable these songs are. 

Thanks to Jump Starts for sending this along to me! Look for this album on Dedicated Ears year end list.

For St. Louis folks, they will be having an album(vinyl) release show this Sat at Off Broadway. Don't miss it. Info HERE.


Recorded and mixed at R&R music Labs in St. Louis MO
 The Loud Label. An independent label in St. Louis.
 Mixed by Ryan Lewis and mastered by Ryan Albritton
extra musicians on album listed on songs Melinda Cooper - Electric Bass on "Stuck" "What Hides Inside" "Last Time" and "Don't Need Much William Godfred - Lead Guitar on "Last Time" Curtis Brewer - Lead Guitar on "Lord Who Knows" Slide Guitar on "Written on The Water" and Banjo on "There You Are" Jay Lewis - Upright Bass on "Carryin' on and Written on the Water.

Jump Starts - Ready, Set, Go

The ever talented singer song-writer Justin Johnson (Pretty Little Empire) is at it again with his new project, Jump Starts. He is joined by Sarah Ross (Paper Dolls) who plays drums, claps and sings. By deductive reasoning this should be a great album. Pretty Little Empire have made my most listened to albums of the last 2 years and Paper Dolls recently released an album I had on repeat, I loved it so much. Well, this album is every bit as good as I would have guessed.  Ready, Set Go hearkens back to the 1950's and pays an astute homage to the likes of Buddy Holley and Eddie Cochran. Justin and Sarah add touches of Americana and even a bit of 80's pop sensibility with the way the chorus is repeated as Justin sings the lead over it to make these sparkling pop songs that feature unconventional structures at times. 



The vocal mix on "It's Not Over" is stellar and showcases Justin's ease with melody.  The 50's influenced "Can You Help Me" call and response vocals with Justin's earnest pleading lends a level of urgency to the boy aching about a girl sentiment.  "Come Home Come Home" would probably be the radio lead single from this collection of songs. Just the right vocal mix coupled with the little jazz shuffle of Sarah's on drums.

Sarah's loose sounding percussion is the perfect counterpoint to Justin's precise songwriting and tight melodies. I am fortunate to have heard some of these songs in their original form as i-phone demos Justin made with the phone in the bathroom sink. In this Jump Starts form these songs manage to vary by the song structure as well as an ever changing way that Justin and or Sarah sing the choruses. The production is kept sparse and puts a spotlight on the ridiculously talented melodic ears of Justin. I saw Jump Starts play in St. Louis a few months ago and they were every bit addictive live as on Ready Set Go. Justin and Sarah will have a album release show this Sat June 18th at Jefferson Warehouse (St. Louis) with a really cool band Blood Pony (their last show as a band).