SILVER TONGUE - Live at the Zoo
New Jack Rubys In 2007, Brisbane rockers New Jack Rubys released their debut album Death to the Weird. What followed was a string of glowing reviews in which the band was likened to Oz Rock stalwarts Beasts of Bourbon, Radio Birdman and Bad Seeds, along with internationals such as Mudhoney, Stooges and The Who. A few dozen live shows sealed the four-piece's reputation as an 'emerging local talent', with terms like, "unbridled, in-your-face brand of rock and roll," "a fantastic sprawl of big riffs and strong melodies," and "a bunch of filthy Mudhoney/Birdman/Stooges-loving f**k-ups from Queensland," being thrown around by reviewers.
2009 sees NJR compiling tracks for the follow up to 2007's Death to the Weird, including the singles Big! Sexy! Party! - which featured in the jTV series Forlorn Gaze, was included in the 2008 Before Hollywood compilation Stranded, and scored the no. 5 position in 4ZzZ's Hot 100 2008 - and Bachenwulf - included in the 2009 Brisbane Sounds Sampler.
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ALBUM REVIEWS - DEATH TO THE WEIRD
"Been wondering where all the honest Aussie rock bands went? Wish you could still head down the pub to see the Hard Ons, Exploding White Mice, the Sunnyboys and Beasts of Bourbon every weekend for five bucks? Fuck we do, and we weren't even nearly old enough to get into pubs whn those bands were ruling. Neither were the New Jack Rubys, but that isn't stopping them doing those acts proud by belting out the sorta heartfelt, huge-riffin, god-given rock you wish you could get loose to in pubs more often, instead of the dinky poker-machine blurting and farting that soundtracks most of our drinking these days.
As well as tapping into a proud underground Oz-rock heritage by getting into their van and gigging up and down the east coast from their Brisbane base, New Jack Rubys offer more than a passing nod to acts like Kyuss, Mudhoney and others who worship at the altar of the Big Muff guitar pedal. While it's onstage that this four-piece really come into their own, Death To The Weird more than lives up to their live sound, with tracks like 'Speed Queen' (heard in the Board Bible section of our last ASL dvd), 'Silver Tongue' and the fist-pumpingly anthemic title track giving you more than enough reason to break out the tennis racket for some bedroom-guitar histrionics."
ASL RATING - 4/5
BEST FOR: Coming over that last rise before the beach, looking at the lines stacked to the horizon and cranking full volume."
Australia's Surfing Life magazine, issue 237
Australia's Surfing Life magazine, issue 237
"It's been an 18-month labour of rock, but promising, no nonsense Brisbane rockers New Jack Rubys have emerged with a debut album they can be mighty proud of in the form of the incendiary Death to the Weird.
The four-piece ply an unbridled, in-your-face brand of rock and roll that they exemplify in intese fashion on the album's opener and title track as well as on 'Miss Teen USA', 'Speed Queen' and 'Roaming Eye'. Yet at the same time they've also added some extra instrumentation in just the right places to give the album some welcome depth. The otherwise blistering 'Silver Tongue' is punctuated tastefully with blast of harmonica from Conor Macdonald (The Gin Club), while 'Tesla Coil' features added organ from Skritch (Mary Trembles), who also produced the album.
The best addition in this regard though comes from 'Warship Colossus & Me', which features the fine talents of three-piece horn section The Summer Breeze Horns, as well as backing vocals by local gal Sabrina Lawrie (Little Vegas and the Fuzz Parade).
NJR round out Death to the Weird in semi-epic fashion with 'I am Big Time' - a track whose title could well be a prophecy for what lies around the corner for this emerging local talent."
- Justin Grey, Time Off
Time Off Magazine
"On their freshly released LP, Death To The Weird, New Jack Rubys take the entire rock genre and shake it like its been very badly behaved. Their sound is a fantastic sprawl of big riffs and strong melodies taking elements from bands like The Who to Mudhoney. The imagination and dirtiness of grunge overlays a cleaner, classic rock vibe, with harmonized vocals and fuzzy bass lending tones of psychedelia."
Michael Pincott - Rave Magazine
Rave Magazine
“Death to the Wierd is Brisbane-based band, New Jack Rubys’ debut record, and is one of those records that just get better the more you listen to it.
The four-piece, heavy guitar driven rock band have a diverse element to their sound, probably due to the fact that all band members share in the vocal duties.
The band's influences, such as Radio Birdman, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Stooges & Mudhoney are definately well-filtered through this record."
Wes Licks - Slam Magazine
Slam Magazine
"And the rock gods said, “Why have you forsaken us? Did we not give you psychedelic rock? Did we not give you hard rock? Did we not give you grunge? Go forth and make something of these. Those who do not find satisfaction in R&B and soft rock will discover something that they can mosh to in their very own homes.â€
It’s true, that really happened and the New Jack Rubys took on the job and what a job they did; spicing up the potent brew with a smattering of goth. The title track is merely an induction into a neck breaking, fist shaking, wall of impenetrable guitar riffs, and when you get to ‘Eight Ball’ you might just need this mellow grunge breather. This album is not for the faint hearted, so don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Nettie - Scene Magazine
Scene Magazine
"Be sure to catch this band at the Nash tonight!! New Jack Ruby's are a hairy bunch of filthy Mudhoney/Birdman/Stooges-loving f**k-ups from Queensland who will (hopefully) live up to this fantastic debut album "Death To The Weird".
Just wait 'til you get half way through this psychedelic mess when the big muffs, the big fuzz and the big f**k-off horn section kick in during "Warship Colossus & Me". From then on it's drenched in nasty, droning Bad Seeds/Beasts of Bourbon/Soundgarden/Scientists style action. With support from Geelong's favourite skuzzbags, The Convulsions, who will show off their "new look - still ugly" lineup tonight, you'd be f**kin' mad if you miss this show. Be there!!
Nipples McFry - Forte Magazine, Geelong
Forte Magazine
View New Jack Rubys' EPK
New Jack Rubys' debut album Death To The Weird OUT NOW on Second Head Records.
Get your copy at a gig, or from one of these fine establishments!
QUEENSLAND
Rockinghorse Records, Brisbane
The Foundry, Brisbane
Music Mania, Gold Coast
Rare Groove Records, Gold Coast
Tommy Rockers, Gympie
NEW SOUTH WALES
Redback Music, Wollongong
Music Farmers, Wollongong
VICTORIA
Missing Link, Melbourne
Collector's Corner, Melbourne
Off The Hip, Melbourne
International Trash
BUY ONLINE @ eBay and iTunes
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