Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers - "I Love You"

Girl Power Punk

Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers (“TJatJT”) are an all-girl Punk Rock band hailing from Australia. Given the raw attitude and the strongly Feminist lyricism and subject matter, I’ve also seen them classified as ‘Riot Grrrl’ - which is a feminist Punk subgenre/movement that started up in the 90s. There is also definitely some Grunge/Post-Grunge at play, especially in the guitar lines for the harder songs.

I Love You is the band’s debut album, but they’ve been active since about 2015.

Right from the start, with opener “I Used to Be Fun”, the attitude that spans the whole album is readily apparent. There are songs in multiple modes throughout the album, but all of them, even the slow ones,¹ have this sort of resonant energy and attitude to them.

And, I mean, if you’re making a Punk album, that’s kind of crucial.

Now, Punk is a genre that I’ve never done exceptionally well with. Especially hardcore punk, as they have this tendency to deconstruct songs past the point of enjoyment for me; and even if they hit upon something I like, the songs are too brief to really enjoy.²

TJatJT manage to find a solid balance, though, utilizing a Poppier approach to their songwriting and allowing Rock influences to override the typical Punk aspects in key areas. The songs feel like more typical, approachable songs, and only two fall below the two-and-a-half minute mark (and one of those is at 2:29).

The album starts off with a ton of energy, right out of the gate, with “I Used to Be Fun” and “Treat Me Better”. That second track is ripe for use as an intergenerational Feminist anthem, to boot.³

“Backseat Driver”, the third track, brings the tempo down, but is a strong composition with enough energy ingrained in it to make the transition feel easy. Compare this to “Your House My House”, the fifth track, and the difference is stark. Track 5 is much more bare-bones and depressed, with very little in the way of instrumentation. All four members contribute vocally to “Your House My House” in this emotionally-strained, desynchronized manner which works, but also isn’t my favorite approach on I Love You.

There are only 2.5⁴ other low-tempo tracks on the album, and the third one, “Salt”, is track 6. This leaves the album somewhat imbalanced, as the first six tracks hold the majority of the slower songs. Only “Never Saw It Coming” really slows down the second half.

Otherwise, “I Don’t Want It”, “AHHHH!”, and “Lights Out” re-establish the fast-paced, fun tone for the second half, fully matching the energy of the album’s two opening tracks.

Overall, it’s a fun album. TJatJT are a talented young group; I’m optimistic that they’re only going to get better at this point.

Rating: Teal Blue

1. With the singular exception of “Your House My House”

2. This has been a notable issue I’ve had with artists like Willow, whose music is phenomenal, but ultimately the majority of tracks sound like they’re meant to be included on a kids’ TV show because they’re over in two minutes.

3. Add in “Labour” by Paris Paloma and you’ve got the start of a killer Feminist playlist focused on domestic equality.

4. “Toe Bone” starts light, but picks up; even then, the tempo doesn’t actually have to change much, if at all, because it’s already kinda there.