Jet Circus - "No Mercy For the Living Dead" (Demo)

Jet Circus - No Mercy For the Living Dead
1992, Never released

1. Never
2. Motorcycle Mama
3. No Mercy
4. Get In Line or Step Aside
5. Shine
6. Landslide
7. Paradise
8. Honey Pie
9. Delilah
10. Welcome Home

Well, well, well... I finally got it. The mysterious, elusive, REAL second album from Jet Circus. How did I acquire such an animal? Well, it involved a lot of cloak & dagger shenanigans. Overseas accounts. Calls to international diplomats. It was a real 007 operation - but I've got it. And it's.... pretty good, actually! Just hearing Terry singing again filled me with joy. This actually sounds like Jet Circus in a way that Look at Death Now just didn't. I'm still not sure why this wasn't ever released. The rumor mill states that the record company (Wonderland, I believe) was giving them a hard time about it. That's probably because the lyrics on this album are not nearly as overtly religious as Step On It. That's not a problem for me, but back in the day I can see a Christian record exec being a little cagey about lyrics like, "Would you mind if I touched your breast/Kissed your lips and forgot the rest?" (from "Motorcycle Mama"). Granted the song isn't what it might seem just from that line but you can guarantee that people would have gotten their panties all in a twist about it. Also, the sound of this album is just a bit more experimental than the last. Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of that deliciously fuzzy guitar and bass. However, there's also a lot more programmed beats and electronic pop noises. Oh, and "Honey Pie" is a straight-up bluegrass song. Love it. Seriously. I want Steam Powered Giraffe to cover it. "Paradise" is the album's lone ballad and it's kind of boring - though there is some sweet bass lines in it. It's also probably the most "Christian" song on the album. I think that if this had come out in '92 or whenever I probably would have loved it. I really wish the guys would get back together and finish this for old time's sake. Definitely worth hearing if you get a chance to!

Useless Fact: I guess there's also a second version of Step On It with three members in the band and live drums. I will have to check that out as well.

Jet Circus - "Look at Death Now"

Jet Circus - Look at Death Now

2005, Hypersonic

1. One Dime Scape Goat

2. Man Rules

3. Godless Happiness

4. Look at Death Now

5. Lizzard Love

6. The Way You Bless Me

7. Shooting Star

8. Skull of the Poet

9. Fears of Tomorrow

I have really mixed feelings about this one. This isn't actually Jet Circus' second album. The actual second album was called No Mercy For the Living Dead and was supposed to be released about the time this one was. Look at Death Now was to be Ez Gomer's solo album. Well, all of a sudden vocalist Terry Haw left the band, Look at Death Now became the new Jet Circus album, and No Mercy faded away into obscurity. Most of the reviews of this disc are pretty positive but I have to confess that I'm just not that into it right now. Ez Gomer does a good approximation of Terry Haw but I don't think he quite gets there. The fuzz is still there and the album does rock pretty hard but it just doesn't feel as much fun as the debut did. In fact there are only two songs where I felt like I was listening to Jet Circus - namely "Lizzard Love" and "Look at Death Now." Additionally, I just don't think the hooks are there. I hope this one grows on me, but time will tell....

Hopefully someday we'll get No Mercy...

Useless Fact: I suspect that this album was supposed to be a sort of concept album based on a comic written by Ez. I only say that because back when this was his solo album he had a lot of comic book art on his website and I think the album was supposed to tie into that. I don't know for sure so maybe someone can enlighten us. Also... someone please tell us as to how Wonderland could neglect to publish No Mercy!

Jet Circus - "Step On It"

Jet Circus - Step On It

1991, Wonderland

1. Victory Dance

2. Rockin' Horse

3. Jet Blue

4. Step On It

5. Ghost Town

6. Break This Jail

7. Be Bop a Lula

8. Train

9. Run

10. Dress in White

Man, I love Jet Circus. If I had to put a label on their sound I guess it would be rock-a-billy fuzz metal. I know that probably doesn't tell you anything but that's the best I can think of. There is a lot of cool fuzz - especially on the bass ("Excuse me, you know God loves bass guitar!") take a track like "Jet Blue" for example. The song is backed by the low fuzzy bass with the psycho guitar over it. A drum machine handles the percussion and it gives the album a bit of a dance flavor too sometimes. There was truly nothing like this band. I even like the faux-rap song "Victory Dance." "Be Bop a Lula" is a cover from some 50's or 60's group but I can't remember the name.

Useless Fact: Apparently this CD came out once already with a different cover (it had 3 guys on it instead of 2). Oh, and the band recorded another disc titled No Mercy For the Living Dead which was never released for some stupid reason. Their latest album (that I don't have) is Look at Death Now and I think it's just Ez Gomer himself on that one.