Album Review: Jonathan Boulet - Gubba

After the breakaway success of his self-titled debut in 2010, Jonathan Boulet capitalised on the swift adoration he garnered and brought us his sophomore We Keep The Beat, Found The Sound, See The Need, Start The Heart.

Boulet brings from his side projects that range from indie-rock to power metal. Gubba is tipped to rival its greatness, and for the majority trumps it.

It’s been two years since that much-lauded LP dug its claws into the discerning music lover, one who appreciates the many strengths Boulet brings from his side projects that range from indie-rock to power metal. Gubba is tipped to rival its greatness, and for the majority trumps it.

What Boulet always manages to pull off in his releases is the sense that something revolutionary is occurring. The jangly layers within the almost surfer-rock of Hold It Down is unrelenting in its wall of sound, but the title motif breaks free enough to make it catchy. It’s this intensive layering of guitars and effects that Boulet continues to play with throughout, but it’s never better used than in Creeper, with its seesawing guitars and hollow gang vocal calls, and the sublime You’re A Man, which ups the noise-rock with an infectious, zealous repetitive riff counteracted with a dirgey cut-time section.

Where some problems arise is in the start-to-end listen of Gubba’s 14 tracks, where it becomes slightly apparent that the less standout songs could benefit from some shade where there is so much light. But as a self-produced effort, Boulet has kept a reasonably firm rein on what is clearly a creative mind with endless possibilities.