Jonezetta

Cruel To Be Young

[4/5]

Rock fads are cyclical. So after years of grinding it out, finesse is back in fashion. Mississippi quintet Jonezetta take advantage by diversifying their wardrobe. Their 2006 debut, Popularity, consumed as it is with ’80s new wave, could be the cousin of the Killers’ Hot Fuss-all that was missing were asymmetrical haircuts. Jonezetta’s latest brightens the palette significantly, scaling back the synth atmospheres and mechanistic beats while turning the guitar hooks up to high-def. Hints of the retro sensibility remain on “Valentine” and the catchy title track, but feel fuller than before. The beats are perkier, and there’s skinny-tie ebullience worthy of Pretty In Pink’s Duckie, particularly on the breathless “Busy Body.” But what’s most impressive is the increased sophistication: From the fanciful, piano-driven “Paint & Picture” to the gently lilting psych-pop of “Fur Coat (Roaming Like Animals),” it’s a surprisingly adventurous, charismatic effort. (TOOTH & NAIL) Chris Parker