The Campaign 1984

In a scene where a few screams throughout an album will get you monstrous sales and a plethora of pre-pubescent, tight pant-dawning fans, the Campaign 1984 surely fit in. However, they surely do more than just pick up easily-drawn in fans with tendencies to cross-dress with their independent release Jazz For Burning.

Jazz for Burning is 27 minutes of Southern rock-influenced post-hardcore that’s both addicting and satisfying, with certain, unparalleled qualities to keep you coming back for more. Vocalist Matt Anderson, who can undeniably be compared to the ever-so-raw Keith Buckley, delivers unrefined, in your face lyrics, while backup vocalists Dakota and Justin contribute effective screams time and time again throughout the album.

“I’m not a rockstar / I’m a fucking asshole” begins the album with an accurate depiction of what’s to come. “This Band’s Got T-Shirts” is riddled with smart vocal alterations and drum beats that would be hard not to carry out on one’s body. “Salem” follows in the same pattern with the almost infectious rhythms and moments of clapping.

“A Different Kind Of Hurt So Good” will surely captivate the most indifferent fan and introduce them to the world of the Campaign 1984 where the lyrics are the only thing dirtier than the guitar riffs. Though the Campaign attempt a similar breakdown in “Last Week's Tragedy Between Commercials,” the follow-through is both cautious and efficient in “A Different Kind Of Hurt So Good.”

Jazz for Burning manages, for the most part, to dodge genre boundries. The album boasts a more hardcore sound in tracks like “Nascar Jihad,” while others rely solely on the Southern rock guitar riffs (see: “Your Revolution Believes In Magic.”) With such a variation in composure, hearing one song alone won’t give you the proper idea of what the band’s all about.

With such an impressive self-released full-length, the Campaign 1984 should definitely prove themselves to be more than worthy to stand in front of undeserving acts such as Fight Paris, who even with the help of Trustkill couldn’t produce a record worth more than having sex to. Axl Rose just may be a proud papa.

MP3
Salem