Thunderstatement:The Jai-Alai Savant

Artist: The Jai-Alai Salvant

Date Released: October 25, 2005

Label: GSL

Produced By:

Tracklisting:
 * 1) Scarlett Johansson Why Don't You Love Me
 * 2) Thunderstatement
 * 3) Diary of the Mass Trappist
 * 4) Murder Pon the Dance Hall, Pt. 1
 * 5) Sugar Free

Review: Chicago via Philadelphia trio, The Jai-Alai Savant (pronounced the high-ly-sa-vant) has been working the underground scene for the last 3 years, but this EP could garnish their hard work with some much warranted attention. Released on Omar A. Rodriguez-Lopez's (The Mars Volta, At the Drive-In, De Facto) GSL label, Thunderstatement is just that, an aggresive call beckoning kids to listen with attentive ears to 15 minutes up upbeat reggae-infused indie-rock. Their style almost sounds like The Police if they had evolved within the realms of post-punk rather than just pop. They tend to owe more to the rocksteady acts like Desmond Dekker or The Ethiopians as their sound is innately pop-infused, but are not afraid to experiment within the boundaries as they bring in elements of dub and art-punk. Strangely enough, they almost sound akin to TV on the Radio, though the bands' influences come from different genres. This is certaintly a strong outing for the trio, and it will be interesting to hear what they can accomplised with a full-length outing. Mpardaiolo