ALBUM REVIEW: Jebediah - Kosciuszko

(released on Dew Process/UMA, 2011)
Review by Matt Hallett
                                             
3.5 /5

After deciding to go on hiatus following their 2004 album ‘Braxton Hicks’ Jebediah are back in full flight with their latest release ‘Kosciuszko’. The Perth quartet’s fifth studio album, demonstrates a certain maturity within the well crafted songs, yet still has that unique ‘Jebediah’ sound about it.

It’s evident that singer Kevin Mitchell’s solo project under the name of Bob Evans, has helped further develop his song writing craft, with a number of well crafted and structured songs such as Control and the infectiously catchy She’s Like a Comet. While Mitchell’s voice has matured since the early Jebediah days, there remains a unique quality about his singing that puts an immediately recognisable ‘Jebediah’ stamp on the tracks.

Songs such as To Your Door and Are We Ok? demonstrate the band’s growth over the years from the early days of ‘Slightly Odway’, but there’s still a youthful vigour in songs like Under Your Bed.

Battlesong is a fine example of how the matured Jebediah sound blends with the classic anthemic Jebediah sound on the album; with its steadily marching beat in the verses and hushed vocal tones, building up to an anthemic chorus.

‘Kosciuszko’ is probably a more optimistic record than its predecessors, with a little less angst in the songs. But overall the album is a solid listen from beginning to end, apart from one or two tracks that fall a little flat. It may take a couple of listens for the tracks to sink in, but diehard fans will be impressed, as will new fans who will find the album very accessible, whether or not they’ve heard any older Jebediah material.



Jebediah kick off their tour in support of Kosciuszko at the Corner Hotel in Melbourne, May 5.
For more tour dates and info visit the official Jebediah website.