El Jezel is a three-piece from Queens and they happen to be that rare breed of band who can treat you to a rollicking good time for three songs in a row only to entrance you with an ode to spaghetti westerns the next. Or, the other way around. Sometimes they pull off mindbending genre shifts like this mid-song. They'll go from shoegaze inspired glide to post-rock jam, and back again, leaving you going "hm, wow, what the...I like it!" Then, just when your senses are telling you "more, give more El Jezel" they pull out a cover song and end with "Michigan".
-EARFARM
While I've always dug their off-kilter bass heavy pseudo Sonic Youthish vibe - what they've evolved into - an off-kilter bass heavy very Sonic Youthish pop inspired vibe with stage presence to spare and then some was quite a pleasant surprise and made for a very enjoyable set indeed. Mos def a band on the rise and not to be missed - feel the love for yourself.
-JENYK
El Jezel started our Union Hall residency off with some dreamy post rock. As the crowd gradually shuffled in and began their long journey into soused, dramatic shifts and emphatic climaxes gave that swimming feeling a healthy nudge. I suspect this sort of thing might work better in total darkness, or sound tracking some seriously majestic nature footage (as Earfarm once suggested) but there were no complaints to be registered. I will note that it's odd to see such seemingly nice people play such intense music, but that's hardly a drawback.
-MERRY SWANKSTER
El Jezel put on a great set. They impress me even more each time I see them. I think the thing that really impresses me about the band is their presence. They genuinely look like they want to be up on stage. They want to be playing their songs for anyone who will listen. They have fun. And because of that, I have fun each time.
-UNDERRATED
George, Jess, and Dan are three incredibly talented and almost impossibly sweet people, and the music they make shows it. Though they've got the wistful shoegaziness down like nobody's business, they can rock it like you wouldn't believe in an instant.
-SUBINEV
Muted strings, ambient rhythms, and soft voices carry El Jezel through their debut, "Elements of Being Put Together". Almost experimental at points, the music gives you a sense that something explosive is about to happen, then stops just as that moment nears. It's simple but intelligent indie rock that's headed into an immense future.
-INDEPENDENTS ONLY
Elements of Being Put Together,†is a melodic and interesting album, perfect for late-night listening under glowing stars.
-MERCURIAL SOUND
