Caesars Album: “39 Minutes Of Bliss (In An Otherwise Meaningless World)”

This disc caught my attention when Apple started using it in their new iPod Shuffle commercials. A very catchy song that sounded instantly familiar. "Jerk It Out" is the song that got my attention and also the song that most underscores the fact that as much as some of the songs on this disc are ultra-catchy, I doubt they will age well. "Jerk It Out" for example, lifts an instantly recognizable organ track from Inspiral Carpets and not-quite-so but still obviously, borrows its much of its structure and a good part of its verse's melody from Duran Duran's "Girls on Film." Don't beleive me? Listen to both songs back to back... you'll hear it. This album is a pleasant romp into recycled and sampled 80's sounds rearranged and remodeled for today. I also found myself thinking it sounded a lot like Oasis in spots. It's fun, but I'm prepared to not like it as much as it ages. Nearly every song on here, though good, sounds like something you've already heard somewhere. Overall, I suggest downloading the four or five really catchy tracks and skipping the whole album purchase though.

How embarrasing! I had to catch a whiff of this band's existence from a frickin' iPod commercial! But there's something about these monstrous grooves and riffs that makes it easy to swallow my pride and dig in. Merely to label these guys a 60s retro act is, I think, a dismissive and narrow-minded appraisal of an album that explores much wider terrain. Beyond a few tricks on the organ that evoke the genius of Alan Price (the great organ player for the great Animals) and some blistering rockers that recall a young Dave Davies slashing his amps to find a sound that mattered, Caesars revise rather than revisit the influences they honor. No 60s band made rockers that punched as hard as "I'm Gonna Kick You out" or "You Don't Mean A Thing To Me," and the album's appealingly lo-fi production helps the material come alive in a way that makes rock 'n' roll sound new all over again. Of course the iPod hit "Jerk It Out" packs more fun into three minutes than most people have in a lifetime, but the festivities only begin there, trundling through the at once gorgeous and fierce "Only You" and the surprisingly atmospheric and melancholy "Since You Been Gone." There's a lot more to these guys than the era that made them possible, and I eagerly await the release of their new album on April 26.

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O.K, so "Jerk It Out" is one of the greatest songs of this admittedly young century and we would all like to buy this album in hopes of more songs like this. Only life never seems to work the way we want it to, especially with music. The album is fun and energetic and damn if these Swedes don't like funny lyrics and driving Farfisa organ. The opener , "Sort It Out" is a hyper and groovy workout about smoking crack and banging their heads against the wall because their girl is gone. These are funny, goofy lyrics along the lines of The Ramones. Actually, these cats could be to the Farfisa organ what The Ramones were to heavy guitar rock. Ultimatley the songs are quite expedient, and these boys seem to know it, as "Jerk It Out" has appeared on no less than three of their albums. I hope they last a while and find their hidden musical mojo because, damn, I love that cheesey organ sound. Don't you?

If you are digging "JErk It Out" on the iPOd ad this is a great place to start to discover the world of Caesars (formerly known as Caesars Plaace in Sweden). the band has been around since 1996 and this is a comp of their first 3 albums only availble in Sweden where they are big pop stars- with a punk/garageband attitude!! But the timing is just right here in early 2005 as the band will unleash their 4th album PAPER TIGERS in the uS (Apr 26)and Europe and is out now in Sweden! And it is AMAZING!- A new mix of "JErk it out" appears as well as their best songs yet. So get 39 Minutes OF Bliss as a primer - and the new album will blow your mind. then search the Swedish websites for the catalog YOUTH IS WASTED ON THE YOUNG, CHERRY KICKS, LOVE FOR THE STREETS. simply one of the most talented songwriting bands in existence today!!!!

The Caesars, hailing from Sweden where rock bands seem to be around every corner, are pure garage rock and roll from the beginning to the end. However, if you aren't into this type of music, start with something more mainstream like the Strokes, or the White Stripes. From there check this band out, it keeps the same sounds and keyboards that you're used to, and sounds vaguely familiar. This will cause you to either love or hate this album. Each song is bursting with energy, from Sort it Out to You Don't Mean a Thing to Me and will keep you on your toes and on the verge of dancing. Still skeptic? Download Jerk It Out and then tell me you were able to keep a smile off your face.