Jersey's Best Dancers
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''Jersey's Best Dancers'' is the third studio album by American
punk rock Punk rock (also known as simply punk) is a rock music genre that emerged in the mid-1970s. Rooted in 1950s rock and roll and 1960s garage rock, punk bands rejected the corporate nature of mainstream 1970s rock music. They typically produced sh ...
band Lifetime. It was released on June 10, 1997, through
Jade Tree Records Jade Tree International, Inc. is an independent record label formed by Darren Walters and Tim Owen in 1990 in Wilmington, Delaware. History Origin (1987–1990) In 1987, Tim Owen and Darren Walters were introduced during a punk show in Washin ...
.


Background and production

With the release of their second studio album '' Hello Bastards'' in September 1995, Lifetime solidified their line-up as Ari Katz on vocals, Dan Yemin and Pete Martin on guitar, Dave Palaitis on bass, and Scott Golley on drums. The album, which earned the band a dedicated following, was promoted with tours of the United States and European territories. By early 1996, Lifetime began writing material for their next album. In June 1996, the band recorded an album at Trax East in South River, New Jersey, with Steve Evetts. In spite of nearly finishing the sessions, Lifetime felt some of the tracks needed further refinement. "The Boy's No Good" was released as a single in August 1996, with "Somewhere in the Swamps of Jersey" as the B-side, to build hype for their next album. The band toured the US and Europe again over the course of the next few months. After returning home, the band returned to the studio, where they completed recording ''Jersey's Best Dancers'' in January 1997.


Composition and lyrics

Musically, the sound of ''Jersey's Best Dancers'' has been described as
melodic hardcore Melodic hardcore is a broadly defined subgenre of hardcore punk with a strong emphasis on melody in its guitar work. The style often includes guitar harmonies, riffs using octave chords, as well as broken chords. Additionally, lyrics tend towar ...
,
hardcore punk Hardcore punk (commonly abbreviated to hardcore or hXc) is a punk rock music genre#subtypes, subgenre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots ...
,
punk rock Punk rock (also known as simply punk) is a rock music genre that emerged in the mid-1970s. Rooted in 1950s rock and roll and 1960s garage rock, punk bands rejected the corporate nature of mainstream 1970s rock music. They typically produced sh ...
, and
pop-punk Pop-punk (also punk-pop, alternatively spelled without the hyphen) is a rock music fusion genre that combines elements of punk rock with power pop or pop music, pop. It is defined by its fast-paced, energetic tempos, and emphasis on classic pop s ...
. Bart Niedzialkowski of ''
Punk Planet ''Punk Planet'' was a 16,000 print run punk zine, based in Chicago, Illinois, that focused most of its energy on looking at punk subculture rather than punk as simply another genre of music to which teenagers listen. In addition to covering m ...
'' said Lifetime's "formula was simple: hard, fast and aggressive punk rock touched up with a healthy dose of melody". He said the lyrics tackled "deeply personal and emotional tinges" that made for a "raw and searing combination of uncompromising hardcore punk and smart, introspective writing".Niedzialkowski 2004, p. 144 The album's opening track, "Turnpike Gates", starts with fast-tempo guitarwork and drum parts, before giving way to Katz's lyrics on lost love. The title of "Young, Loud, and Scotty" cribs its name from a Dead Boys
release Release may refer to: * Art release, the public distribution of an artistic production, such as a film, album, or song * Legal release, a legal instrument * News release, a communication directed at the news media * Release (ISUP), a code to i ...
; an alternative version of the track was previously released on the compilation ''Punk Uprisings Vol. 2'' (1997). "Francie Nolan" opens with guitar chords that ring out, before pausing on one measure, and then shifting into a fast tempo. The mid-tempo "25 Cent Giraffes" is followed by the
ballad A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and song of Great Britain and Ireland from the Late Middle Ages until the 19th century. They were widely used across Eur ...
-like "Hey Catrine", and the
hardcore punk Hardcore punk (commonly abbreviated to hardcore or hXc) is a punk rock music genre#subtypes, subgenre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots ...
song "Bringin' It Backwards"; an alternative version of the latter was previously released on the compilation ''The Tie That Binds'' (1996). In "How We Are", Katz tackles complaints against the band, and is followed by the slower-paced "Theme Song for a New Brunswick Basement Show". The latter sees Katz talking about standing next to a girl at a basement, pondering on whether she would break his heart; an alternative version of the track was previously released on the compilation ''Anti-Matter'' (1996). The closing track, "The Verona Kings", also details with criticism towards Lifetime.


Release and reception

As recording concluded in early 1997, the band went on a handful of US west coast shows, before breaking up. Katz explained that he was "burnt out, having been on tour in bands since I was 16. ..I had zero self-esteem and thought I should just be home and figure out how to get a job." ''Jersey's Best Dancers'' was released on June 10, 1997, through the
record label "Big Three" music labels A record label or record company is a brand or trademark of Sound recording and reproduction, music recordings and music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a Music publisher, ...
Jade Tree. In a retrospective piece for Punknews.org, writer Mike Musilli said that the album aided in the maturation of hardcore punk in 1997, with the "diversity of the record’s tracks avinglaid the groundwork for this sonic progression in the hardcore underground." ''Jersey's Best Dancers'' received largely positive reviews. ''
AbsolutePunk ''AbsolutePunk'' was a website, online community, and alternative music news source founded by Jason Tate (the most recent CEO). The website mainly focused on artists who are relatively unknown to mainstream audiences, but it was known to featu ...
'' staff writer Chris Collum noted that while the instrumentation was "particularly spectacular or technically difficult," it was "nearly peerless" for Lifetime. He wrote that Katz's voice was "delivered in a very raw and amateur way," done in manner that is "fitting with the musical style."
AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
reviewer Peter J. D'Angelo declared that ''Jersey's Best Dancers'' was a "triumphant burst of upbeat
punk rock Punk rock (also known as simply punk) is a rock music genre that emerged in the mid-1970s. Rooted in 1950s rock and roll and 1960s garage rock, punk bands rejected the corporate nature of mainstream 1970s rock music. They typically produced sh ...
that makes it clear the band called it quits while they were still at the top of their game." ''
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'' contributor Kevin Ruggeri wrote that ''Jersey's Best Dancers'' "portrays Lifetime at the height of their craft; a fitting swan song for a band that's been in a constant stage of evolution and progression since its inception." ''Punk Planet'' writer Dan Sinker called it their best effort as Katz's "spot-on melodies contrast beautifully with the driving beats". Joachim Hiller of '' Ox-Fanzine'' wrote that " mittedly, the line of melancholic-melodic punk / hardcore is now pretty exhausted, but here, .. Lifetimemanage to combine the carefree and exuberant, ..with rather sedate rock grooves nd sason it all with a pinch of emo bliss." ''Spectrum Culture'' Nick Gregorio said the band "had perfected their sound" with ''Jersey's Best Dancers'', finding a "balance between melody and intricacy, crafting chord progressions that were atypical, innovative and hellacious fun". It has appeared on various best-of
pop-punk Pop-punk (also punk-pop, alternatively spelled without the hyphen) is a rock music fusion genre that combines elements of punk rock with power pop or pop music, pop. It is defined by its fast-paced, energetic tempos, and emphasis on classic pop s ...
album lists, being named to lists by ''
Kerrang! ''Kerrang!'' is a British music webzine and quarterly magazine that primarily covers rock, punk and heavy metal music. Since 2017, the magazine has been published by Wasted Talent Ltd (the same company that owns electronic music publication ...
'', ''
Rock Sound ''Rock Sound'' is a British magazine that covers rock music. The magazine aims at being more " underground" and less commercial, while also giving coverage to better-known acts. It generally focuses on pop punk, post-hardcore, metalcore, punk, ...
'', and ''
Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. The magazine was first known fo ...
''. Eddie Cepeda of
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cited the album's influence on future pop-punk and
emo Emo () is a genre of rock music characterized by emotional, often confessional lyrics. It emerged as a style of hardcore punk and from the Washington, D.C., hardcore scene, where it was known as emotional hardcore or emocore. The bands ...
acts, such as
Fall Out Boy Fall Out Boy is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Wilmette, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Patrick Stump, bassist Pete Wentz, lead guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer A ...
,
Panic! at the Disco Panic! at the Disco was an American pop rock band formed in Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2004 by high school friends Ryan Ross (guitar) and Spencer Smith (musician), Spencer Smith (drums), who recruited classmates Brendon Urie (vocals and ...
, and
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. Three of the songs on the album have been covered by other artists: "Turnpike Gates" by
Fall Out Boy Fall Out Boy is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Wilmette, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Patrick Stump, bassist Pete Wentz, lead guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer A ...
, "Cut the Tension" by New Found Glory on their EP ''
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'' (2008), and "The Boy's No Good" by
Rise Against Rise Against is an American punk rock band from Chicago, formed in 1999. The group's current line-up comprises vocalist/rhythm guitarist Tim McIlrath, lead guitarist Zach Blair, bassist Joe Principe and drummer Brandon Barnes. Rise Against's mu ...
on their compilation album '' Long Forgotten Songs'' (2013).


Track listing

# "Turnpike Gates" – 2:20 # "Young, Loud, and Scotty" – 1:59 # "Francie Nolan" – 2:08 # "25 Cent Giraffes" – 2:20 # "Hey Catrine" – 2:13 # "Bringin' It Backwards" – 1:32 # "How We Are" – 1:27 # "Theme Song for a New Brunswick Basement Show" – 2:04 # "Cut the Tension" – 1:55 # "The Truth About Lars" – 1:53 # "The Boy's No Good" – 1:12 # "The Verona Kings" – 2:08


References

Citations Sources * *


External links


''Jersey's Best Dancers''
at
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(streamed copy where licensed) {{Authority control Jade Tree (record label) albums 1997 albums Lifetime (band) albums Albums produced by Steve Evetts