Pug Jelly: When Punk Goes Pop

By Valerie Chen · Urbanwire
email reporter · email story · printer friendly version

“You say that I'm your star...
You're one your very own.
And yes, you mean it,
I don't wanna be alone
I say I’ll find you someday...
I'll find you, take you away, from everything, everything we've ever known.”
- "Audra"

 

Love or loathe them – the impact Pug Jelly has made on the local scene is undeniable considering their airplay on Power 98FM. The band's debut self-titled album, which had its launch on the 22nd of May at Hard Rock Café, is a fair effort from this ¼ Japanese, ¾ Australian band.

Whether their appeal lies in their good looks or simply the punk music they play, it is obvious that they are attracting audiences. The crowd watching them play at Baybeats 2003 was made up of mainly female teeny-boppers frantically waving and screaming greetings of “Hi XXX (replace with Sam, Adam, Matt or Masashi – you take your pick)!”

Even before the album’s release, Zion Entertainment, Pug Jelly’s A&R (Artist and Repertoire) management had plugged them and helped them secure gigs at places like Club Oosh and Hard Rock Café. They have thus built a reputation over the past year.

It’s fair to say that Pug Jelly is the voice of the new punk rock generation – their sound is challenging and while often not immediately accessible, it will grow on you if you are willing to let it. Like other foreign bands such as The Ataris and Sum 41, Pug Jelly have created for themselves a niche following in Singapore.

Their debut offering promises chunky guitar motifs over a pounding bass, which pulsate to your own heart beat making this a pleasurable listen. It is not hard for the younger generation to relate to the songs on the album, which are often about falling in and out of love, or the realities of life such as in “Boxing Day” - parties late at night, everyone's getting drunk - you get my drift.

With so much air-play on Power 98, it is hard not to forget that Pug Jelly is still teenage pop punk-ish with whiny vocals that make Fran Drescher sound nasally under enhanced.

However, they are the opening band for Sum 41 – either a boost or demoralising to the local music scene, depending on how you look at it. Any publicity is good publicity anyways - at least people in other countries will know that there are aspiring musicians in Singapore.

Could Pug Jelly be just another passing fad for the MTV generation, and will it be “over when I’m (they’re) sober”? It’s too early to say based on only 1 album, but here’s what we think of it anyway:

The songs were catchy but the production was not exactly appealing as the guitars were a little too in your face and the drums didn't sound tight enought. If they were to fix these minor glitches, their next album would definitely be spinning in my Discman.

A good listen to keep yourself in upbeat spirits, this album is definitely not something you'd play on the family stereo in the dead of night for fear of waking up your parents or the neighbours.

Overall worth the buy – one that deserves a (in the language of the Pugs) – 3.5 out of 5 buttholes.