Well, it has come to this. One of my favourite new bands is named Jacuzzi Boys and they are from Miami, Florida. While fortunately (unfortunately?) there are no elements in their music of Will Smith’s “Welcome to Miami”, or the Pitbull “Welcome to Miami” reggaeton remix, or even Jermaine Stewart’s “We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off” from Miami Vice, they are named Jacuzzi Boys and hail from sunny Miami, which has to get at least a bit of cred with the spicy Miami ladies.

No, let’s not let judge them by their ridiculous name choice. Afterall, a lot of people have learned to forget the issue entirely with bands who chose names like “The Smashing Pumpkins”. I don’t care because the Jacuzzi Boys’ music is fun, well constructed, and reminds me of why I love rock n’ roll. Though everything you read about the band groups them with “garage rock revival” bands, they seem to have more in common with jangle pop bands like The Soft Boys or The Verlaines than they do with garage rock bands like Count Five or The Sonics – but they can still make you dance like “Welcome to Miami”.

“Planet of the Dreamers” and “Smells Dead” are the singles off their new LP, No Seasons. The Boys are not exactly breaking ground with these songs, but that’s not the point. “Smells Dead” is a fairly straightforward pop song, but it’s a pretty perfect one at that. “Planet of Dreamers” never really goes anywhere, but it lays open a reckless and surreal collection of lyrics over a jogging, lively drumbeat. Both don a guitar tone fit for the Jacuzzi Boys’ lush dream punk sound. While Jacuzzi Boys reassure us with these two singles of their status as a fairly pure genre band, they also reassure us that that is okay. What more could you want, really?

Weekly Tape Deck is sharing both singles: Planet of the Dreamers and Smells Dead.

posted by Jeff Bell