Jawdropped – Secret to Spare

The market for ’90s-inspired alternative rock nostalgia is pretty crowded these days, with hundreds of hopeful young bands plundering the record collections of their Gen X parents, nabbing a used Big Muff, and gracing the same sonic avenues as the decade’s heroes. There’s plenty of good stuff out there, too, but the debut record from LA’s Jawdropped immediately hits differently.

It’s one thing to sound like your idols, another to write like them, and that’s the key to Secret to Spare’s success. Even though it rocks a little harder and rarely flirts with the twee end of the indie rock spectrum, it reminds me of Chime School’s The Boy Who Ran The Paisley Hotel, another wonderful fusion of classic influences and vibrant, sophisticated songwriting. The closest resemblance to Andy Pastalaniec’s project is probably the jangly duet “Split Lip.” Elsewhere, Jawdropped recall Teenage Fanclub  on “The Line,” and early Dinosaur Jr. with the crunching guitars and pulverising drums of the early standout “Monday.”

With snarling guitars and pop-punk hooks, “High Beams,” “Cup,” and “Smoglight” show an affinity for the heavier side of power pop, but this triptych probably makes for the record’s least compelling section. While Secret to Spare’s final three tracks are a little more subdued, the measured songwriting and vocal performances of “Pitch Black” and “Whiplash” confirm this young band’s enviable potential, before the acoustic “Two” channels Ratboys and Wednesday to showcase their impressive range.

Secret to Spare is a deceptively bold debut. Jawdropped’s influences may be obvious at times, but the manner in which they deploy them elevates this project. In a field of competent soundalikes, Jawdropped stand apart as songwriters with their own unique voice.

Secret to Spare is out now via Canvasback/Transgressive.