Review: The Jai-Alai Savant - Fight Of The Bass Delegate (or) Scarlett Johansson why don't you love me

Posted on 2 May 2007 | No Comments

Filed Under: Album Reviews, Indie Rock, Noise, World Music

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Ahh yes. Flight Of The Bass Delegate is the debut full-length from the Chicago-by-way-of-Philadelphia group called The Jai-Alai Savant. It is full of danceable dub and reggae-influenced proto post-punk that has taken my iPod by storm. The music on Bass Delegate (in some ways) is reminiscent of The Eternals’ latest album Heavy International, but is more straightforward and pop-oriented. Even so, there are some meandering dub jams that are simply otherworldly. I mean, who doesn’t love the horns? There are also moments that rock with the same punkish guitar punch and angular skronk that Fugazi made famous.

Is it a dance record? Is it a post-punk record? Is it a dub record? Yes. Bass Delegate is all of the above and more. It is an eclectic and adventurous album that refuses to adhere to conventions. The Jai-Alai Savant is unafraid of making challenging and scorching music that also has catchy hooks. Because of this the first album I instantly thought to compare it to was The Clash’s sprawling masterpiece Sandinista. You know I think highly of it.

Recently frontman Ralph Darden (formerly of Philly reggae hardcore band Franklin) seems to have found a steady group of band mates, but on Bass Delegate also gets contributions from members of The Eternals, Mars Volta, The Watchers, and more. I really really like this record a lot. It is really refreshing to hear a band that is confident enough to make music that is hard to define but easy to love. Flight Of The Bass Delegate is available now from the highly bitchin’ Gold Standard Labs.

MP3 | The Jai-Alai Savant – Scarlett Johansson, Why Don’t You Love Me? Flight Of The Bass Delegate
MP3 | The Jai-Alai Savant – Transmission From The Delegate Flight Of The Bass Delegate