Rock's highway is littered with the burnt-out wrecks of dreadful solo side-projects, but thankfully the melodic suss of his usual boss Dave Grohl appears to have rubbed off on Foo Fighters' guitarist Chris Shiflett, as this album by his 'other' band JACKSON UNITED is a smart collection of punky poppers, high on intelligence and arrangement as well as the expected heavy guitar attack.
The highlights come thick and fast and as soon as opener "Lion's Roar" kicks in, Shiflett and co (bassist brother Scott Shiflett and drummer Pete Parada, though there have been recent personnel upheavals) have earned your undivided attention. This song is a fine statement of intent: taut, wired US punk rock in the best sense of the term and distinctly lacking in anything recognisably Emo. Wa-hey! It appears to be an "Eight Miles High"-style snapshot of playing gigs in England (sample lyric: "Rainy Brixton holidays/ red brick parks and alleyways") and simply sizzles.
From there on in, Jackson United barely put a foot wrong. Yes, quite often, Shiflett's ability with quality, pop-imbued melodies and grinding guitars (such as on "All The Way", the bitchy put downs of "Down To You" and "Unchanged") recalls both his parent band and also Ash's penchant for ferocious riffs with their eyes on the chart prize, but when the playing is this solid and inventive and the tunes so infectious, for once we really shouldn't be complaining too loudly.
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Besides, Shiflett and his buddies have a few neat tricks up their fretboards as it turns out. For example, it's not often that hardcore punkers open their tunes with piano and sleighbells as JU do on the expansive and impressive "A Better Life". Or, come to think of it, come over all glacial and atmospheric with mellotrons and Wurlitzer organ in tow like JU do with the haunting, Radiohead-esque "Loose Ends." So there. Oh, and in case you were worried that they'd forgotten how to have fun, then check out the lithe disco backbeats of the excellent "She's Giving In", which is slinky as hell and quite possibly Jackson United's very own "Miss You."
But really "Western Ballads" is a powerful and notably consistent album all round. Shiflett proves that he can take to the spotlight centre-stage with some aplomb, plays some searing guitar and is given sterling support from his rhythm section, ensuring the band ride out the whole caboodle with gusto.
File with pride alongside the Foo Fighters and also not too far south of exalted names like Husker Du. Not bad for a side project, huh?
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