On their debut album,
Solid Guild,
the Joggers craft a sound that fits in perfectly with their fellow Star Time labelmates and alumni. Their sharply hooky guitars, moody-yet-bouncy melodies, and shouty, slightly nasal vocals recall both
the French Kicks and, especially,
the Walkmen. On songs like "I'm Not Convinced" and "Oriental Alarms," singer Ben Whitesides could be a dead ringer for
the Walkmen's Hamilton Leithauser, while the rest of
the Joggers have an appealingly shambling approach that also recalls that band, albeit with less theatricality and more hooks. None of this means that
the Joggers are derivative; it's just that they're another perfect expression of the Star Time sound. Besides, you can never have too much angular-yet-catchy, post-punk-inspired indie rock, especially when it's as engaging as
Solid Guild is. Most of the album finds
the Joggers bouncing around to keep from falling apart, as on "Hot Autism" and "Every Other Word," but they start the album on an atmospheric note with "Loosen Up," which boasts surprisingly intricate guitars and sleigh bells; and the three-part harmonies on "Back to the Future" and "Neon Undercarriage" add a little romantic flair. A few slightly samey tracks keep
Solid Guild from brilliance, but overall, it's a strong, entertaining first album. ~ Heather Phares