We Were Promised Jetpacks: In the Pit of the Stomach

We Were Promised Jetpacks
In the Pit of the Stomach
 (FatCat Records) 

Scottish rockers We Were Promised Jetpacks knew they would be in for a struggle against themselves while recording their sophomore album, In the Pit of the Stomach. Their 2009 debut, These Four Walls, proved to be a roller coaster of energy, which brandished the band’s high-intensity and lead singer, Adam Thompson’s, alluring accent. Though a hit amongst fans and critics, there was no denying the album’s uneven pace and rushed recording schedule of eight days.

Now back on the indie rock scene with much more preparation and a sense of their capabilities, We Were Promised Jetpacks gives us a solid second attempt that promises to crash through your speakers with the same urgency that got the band noticed in the first place.  From its pulse-pounding opening “Circles and Squares” to the seemingly pop-influenced “Human Error,” the band seems to accomplish everything they intended to.

Though, it is the band’s obvious intention to create something more organized than their first album where the album’s flaws present themselves. Though each song resonates something special, if not paid close attention to, the album will quickly become a constant buzz in the background, which will leave you wondering at what point the last track ended and the next one began. Where These Four Walls lacked any true structure, In the Pit of the Stomach may have gotten itself caught in a sticky web of discipline, causing an almost too natural evenness and pop song repetition to ensue.

Despite the album’s sometimes distracting uniformity, the Scottish quartet has once again executed an energy-driven compilation of strong guitar build ups, somber verses, and lighting strike choruses that hit you like a punch you know is coming but you can’t avoid. As long as they maintain their eagerness and continue to experiment with the structure of their albums, there is no reason that their future shouldn’t be a bright one.