No Hope In New Jersey - Narcolepsy / Sober (Infectious)
release date: 26 July 2004
"There's a town in New Jersey called Hope. So, technically there is Hope in New Jersey but we've taken a more pessimistic stance... One percent of life is great, the rest is s**t." Thus spake Andy Garratt, frontman of new Manchester quartet No Hope In New Jersey on their rather strange band name. Whatever happened to Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life?
Still, judging by this double A-side debut single, even a diehard pessimist would have to admit that NHINJ have got plenty of promise. These short, sharp shocks clock in at under five minutes in aggregate and seem to have been conceived In Utero. The verses are loud and obnoxious, the choruses more melody-conscious; Garratt's ploy of shout and sing is Cobain-nostalgia and the feedback-drenched, squalling noise for a guitar solo is as effective as it is obtuse.
Another of the band's choice quotes is: "Everything's going to turn out bad in the end." With these two tracks, they've just proven themselves wrong.