Jaed
Dirty Days

Led by a wild-child and former drug addict - Melbourne-based Vanessa Eve - Jaed have the looks and down-and-out pedigree to punk rock with the stars. The band cite their influences from a rather limited spectrum; specifically mid-‘90s female-fronted grunge acts Hole, Veruca Salt and L7, with Pixies thrown in to add some colour.

Eve certainly sounds like she’s studied the vocal stylings of Veruca Salt’s Louise Post, performing a worthy impression throughout the 11 tracks on their debut album, Dirty Days. There’s also signs she's aware of Riot Grrrl-style catharsis in her lyrics here and there. “I’ll let you play with me/While I sleep,” she yells on ‘My Way’, but then offsets the atmosphere of unease with dull shock tactics: “I’ve blown you twice/So don’t complain”.

For all her youthful conviction, Eve is no Courtney Love and certainly no Kathleen Hanna. The music here is strictly generic pop punk that falls into the same trap as any band who has no idea of the musical culture of their influences. And while they have no qualms about offending the lobbyists, lines such as “You think that we’re junkies/But you don’t wash your undies” (from opener ‘Catherine’) should be left to pop bands like Son Of Dork, who can at least pull off a decent couplet. Proof, clearly, that pedigree isn't everything.