Just Jeffrey

Limd. 300 Deluxe Silk-Screened SleeveEurope Version with new artwork!Its been twelve long years between solo LPs from everyones favourite frontman, Jeffrey McCloy (TRANZMITORS / FASHIONISM). McCloy has long worn his anglophile leanings on his sleeve - if not his lapel - and on "Coffee, Tea & Me" we see him striking out on his own, putting on the Brit with gleeful abandon. From the early WHO and KINKS to THE JAM and THE VAPORS, the musical influences arent hard to pick out. This is a mod revival, and a campy, tongue-in-cheek one at that. Theres songs about football, drinking tea (like, every other song), and evil widows who live at the end of the lane. Its all silly, nostalgic fun, and McCloy absolutely nails it, thanks in no small part to his own self-awareness. "I look out of place but I feel no disgrace," he confesses on the albums closer, "English Way Of Life". Unlike previous projects that saw a full band backing him up at all times, on "Coffee, Tea & Me" the focus is largely on McCloys vocals. On songs like "Cellular Devices" or "Believe What You Must", the sparse arrangements allow his hilariously affected yet oddly charming voice to take centre stage. When he does bust out the full band on numbers like "Kids These Days" and "World Made For Me," no one is stepping on McCloys toes, the drums are tastefully understated and the keys give him plenty of space to breathe. These are pop songs after all, complete with the requisite harmonies and key changes, and damn if they arent catchy.