Jet
'Get Born'
On Elektra Records
Grade: B-Starting with the opening moments of Jet's debut full-length album, "Get Born," when the lead singer says in a British accent, "Can you just give me one more try at that?" the entire album is exploding with the energy of a bygone era in music. Sadly - or possibly happily for some - the sonic pulp that bursts from the seams of "Get Born" is reminiscent of some of the greatest bands of the 20th century.

Sounding like something that could have come straight out of the 70s British rock scene, Jet sounds like The Kinks meets The Rolling Stones meets every band that has populated the garage rock revival in the past two years, like The Strokes and The Hives. For a further sprinkling of rock pretension on the album, Jet throws in some Oasis-tinged rock ballads. Although the band comes from Melbourne, Australia, the members of Jet look like they belong in the New York garage rock scene, complete with too-tight jeans, unkempt hair and motorcycle boots. Walking down the street, Jet could easily be mistaken for a Strokes cover band. For all you metrosexuals out there: Take notice, this is strictly music by hipsters, for hipsters.

Jet has a lot going for them. "Get Born" carries an almost unbelievable amount of energy throughout and the band is clearly very talented. The vocals are dead on, the guitar melodies are catchy and the sound of tambourines clanging rings in almost every song. Yet for all their talent, Jet can't seem to break out of the shadow of their influences. As talented as Jet may be, and as well crafted as "Get Born" is, the album still feels as if it is missing something.

Jet hits the mark with the song "Take It or Leave It," a song title which appears to be borrowed from the Strokes' debut album. The song's energy is so intense, it doesn't have time to catch its own breath, much less that of the listener. Meanwhile, with its backing vocals, insistent tambourines and synthesizers, "Get What you Need" sounds exactly like The Kinks - which isn't a bad thing at all. The slow ballad "Look what You've Done" sounds like Oasis at their "I am God, listen to me mope" stage. Jet has better luck with the song "Move On," an unhurried song filled with country twang, and just the right amount of self-loathing and introspection. Gone are the hundreds of distorted guitar layers that one would find on an Oasis song of similar persuasion. This may be because as a whole, "Get Born" is an extremely simple album.

The lyrics on "Get Born" are at times too simple. This makes you wonder if there is a difference between simple lyrics that improve the basic rock and roll functionality of a song and lyrics that are simply dumb for their lack of complexity. The songs on "Get Born" fall somewhere in between these two categories. When singer Nic Cester says "I know we ain't got much to say" on the track "Are You Gonna be My Girl?" one can't help but thinking how true this is.

There is no doubt that "Get Born" is enjoyable and a good listen, but how much fun can really be had with a band that sounds so much like their influences? This is a guilty pleasure CD at both its best and its worst. On one hand, Jet rocks out just like your favorite bands. On the other hand, the only thing Jet apparently knows how to do is to rock out like your favorite bands. If they weren't copying from such amazing source material, Jet wouldn't be half as good as they are. But that being said, if you like The Rolling Stones, "Get Born" will make for an awesome party album.