Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers share debut album ‘I Love You’
The tragic and beautiful emotions of women are explored through contemporary punk-rock pop.
Photo: Michelle Pitiris
The past couple of years seemed to mark the explosive dominance of feminine rage in the music industry. With female artists both in and out of the mainstream releasing albums that capture the frustration of what it is to be a woman, we’re seeing a growing popularity in female-fronted, and all-female, bands. As a woman myself, I’m cheering along, grinning on the sidelines while watching my sisters win.
Continuing the reign is non-male group Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers with their debut album I Love You. The album handles themes such as girlhood, love, sex, and heartbreak delivered in vibrant bursts of punk rock and self-aware lyrics.
For years, female sexuality and the concept of women wanting and enjoying sex was something that eluded many. I Love You proves that women can be just as sexually liberated as men, with tracks on the album expressing carnal desires that bypass love and go straight to lust.
The opening track I Used To Be Fun draws on the idea of growing up and how circumstances, seemingly out of our control, shift and alter our daily lives before we’ve digested the change. This idea flows through to the following song Treat Me Better, showcasing how growing up can also mean growing out of people. Who we may have considered the right people once before may not be good for us any longer.
Track eight, Cayenne Pepper, is almost not a song at all. It sounds as though the members were mucking about in the studio and thought “Stick it on the album, why not?” Why not indeed? The random energy of the track only adds to the raw authenticity of the album and works as a reminder that this group of 20-somethings are making music from the heart.
There’s a confidence that permeates throughout the entire album and it sure is infectious. The sharp musicality and passionate lyric delivery showcase the confidence of each member — it’s hard to ignore. Much like the protagonist of an early 2000s chick flick, you can imagine yourself walking around in slow motion, mouths of onlookers agape as you radiate conviction of your worth.
I Love You concludes with the track Kissy Kissy, an energetic final send-off. The track addresses an unknown recipient, the girls thanking the universe that “I’m nothing like you!”. Just like the contents of the song, the title is laced with a sarcastic tone, as if the singer is talking down to their target. The second half of Kissy Kissy repeats a motif of filler “Das” which starts quiet and grows into a chant, ends up being yelled by the members, a rallying cry for women everywhere to live freely, live fully, and take much less shit.
Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers’ — comprised of Anna Ryan, Scarlett McKahey, Jaida Stephenson, and Neve van Boxsel — I Love You grasps how it feels to be a modern woman. Moments of rage, joy, passion, and fear are wrapped up and chaotically presented to be thoroughly enjoyed.