Waiting in a Corner - Jackson Reid Briggs and the Heaters (Legless Records)But fear not, Jackson Reid Briggs has not disappeared up its own proverbial philosophical fundament, nor fallen headlong into the same pit of turgid eastern mysticism that captured Pete Townshend, Brian Wilson and George Harrison. Rather, “Waiting in a Corner” is the rock’n’roll record that makes you remember what’s important in the world, when everything else seems to have mutated into a combination of pathetic, self-obsessed and generally shit.
The album is bookended with instrumental flourishes – the appropriately titled "Intro" and "Outro". Between these two aural signposts can be found the invigorating sonic relief of a Jackson Reid Briggs and the Heaters – punk spiked meat-and-veggie guitar, razor sharp melodies, snarling vocals, rock solid rhythm section, flourishing drum fills.
The intro builds to a crescendo and breaks into “If Only You Knew’” all dismissive and angry, in a constructive what-the-fuck-would-you-know SST-via-Collingwood sort of a way. The key to “Been Waiting” lies in the corner of the song, a finely cut guitar lick that ushers the song into existence, re-appears periodically as a foil to Briggs’ gravelly vocals.
“Eaten Alive” draws you in with sublime power, chews your senses up and spits them out with nihilistic abandon. “Too many years” could be a statement of resignation if not for the brute force of the song’s sonic onslaught and industrial strength riffage.
“Dealing Again” is an exercise in recidivism, but when the alleged crime is abrasive rock’n’roll, the only reasonable criminological treatment is to dial up and enjoy. “Look Me in the Eyes” is more hypnotic than Martin St James in an arena full of suburban exhibitionists, and if you haven’t felt the power before “Feel It” kicks in, then you’re not even trying. And then comes "Outro" and you’re not so much as let down slowly as pushed roughly into the corner to take a long, hard look at yourself.
“Waiting in a Corner” doesn’t give you answers or even identify a single organising idea that help you make sense of the irrationality and chaos that has enveloped the world over the past 12 months. But, as the Audi car ad says, it’s not the destination, it’s the journey that’s important. And this is one helluva journey.
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