JEFF JONES is a compulsive worker ,I mean for example, all the  studio and live albums released either solo or within VAMP LE STAT , ST. ELMO’S FIRE. KEESTER and JJ JONASSON ). Here I am reviewing  one of his last solo productions, his 2010 “Spaced” CD on his XXX RECORDS label..

Armed with his Gibson guitar, JEFF JONES composed, performed and recorded the totality of Spaced ,  twelve titles based on his Hard-Rock , Roots-Rock style . This opus is listened to easily, and listening to it I think of crossing the great American west with this superb collection of car songs (a`convertible maybe!) So why not  the great French west as well!?! I dream, I digress…) Just listen  to  “Spaced” and discover this beautiful and honest album!

! (June 2011) See also St. Elmo’s Fire, Vamp Le Stat, Keester, Rockhard)

You Ought to get ‘Spaced’ out !
After having reviewed guitarist, songwriter and producer, Jeff Jones’ album ‘RockHard’ , I was so eager to hear out more of his music. And I did. We got hold of his album called ‘Spaced’, which undoubtedly, is a completely awesome Hard Rock haven, yet again.
The album got off to an excellent start with ‘Queen of Hollywood’, which began with a cool Rock n Roll riff. Excellent vocals, and a completely balanced track. Sounded like a power ballad of the 80s era. PERFECT is the word. ‘No Satisfaction Blues’ gave me a taste of the Scorpions, AC/ DC, a bit of Def Leppard too.This song sounded like it was influenced from a hell lot of bands. But I’m much a fan now of the riffs and the rhythm section of this album. ‘Hell To pay’ was a bit different from the previous tracks, with a dominating heavy riff, though with lesser variety in the vocals.

All of us Rock fanatics surely miss the riffs of the 70’s and 80’s, with not many bands belting out such styles, but its so good to have artists like Jeff who are capable of producing those headbanging hard riffs all over again. Moving on to the next track, ‘Addiction’, and just again, another bloody damn COOL riff. Not only the riff but the mixing and mastering of these tracks are absolutely perfect. I had to hit the Play button again and again on this one !

The drums and bass were the highlights in ‘Resurrecting’, while the track ‘Control’ finally had an intro with the bass, and the overall rhythm was powerfully controlled by the bassist. Now this riff reminded me of Deep Purple. Reaching the next one called ‘Not your love’, I could surely say the style is changing, with the band putting a lot more variety in the album. Even the guitar solo really matched with the song title!

‘Hate me’ had a metal sounding riff unlike others, and in ‘Miss tragedy’, sometimes I could feel a Def leppard style in the vocals and also a lot of inspiration. But its good to have a return of power ballads. Moving further to ‘Bad motor girl’, I personally was looking for a ‘clean’ track, maybe on the acoustic. So it got a bit bore for me, but nevertheless, the mind blowing riffs kept me going !

‘Bad Love’ pretty much was the best riff of this album for me. This riff was a lot original and creative. The album finally ended well with ‘Underground’, with a good job done on the drums, though the distortion could have been a bit low I suppose.

Summing up, except missing out on an acoustic track, this album is ‘Riff-fully’ amazing ! You just CANNOT miss out on these power packed riffs. It was like a journey back in time to the Rock n Roll era of our idols: Deep Purple, AC/DC and Def Leppard to mention a few.
Your neck would pain at the end. Trust me. It’s wilder than you think.  (See also Rockhard, Spaced , St. Elmo’s Fire, Keester, Vamp Le Stat

The band’s name Keester, an American slang term for “ass,” and is  the band ofVAMP LE STAT-musicians Bret “Flash” Blackburn , and Jeff Jones on guitar,

But what makes the typical keester sound, anyway? On a total of twelve tracks of their self-titled debut work are the typical feel-good songs, coupled with distinctive, memorable riffs and a neat portion college pop-punk that really catches your ear.

Usually in the mid-tempo side, Brett sings ‘Get It Again’, ‘Nothing At All’ and the hard rock-heavy “I Like It This Way , and with’ Stand Beside You ‘ a soft-punk number that takes control. Then the album speeds up a little with songs like  ‘Let’s Get High’ , which would be perfect on the soundtrack of any college-teen-movie !.

But at least here you notice the structure of the songs: Quiet verses with  catchy choruses before the verses gain the upper hand again after that. This pattern runs through the entire debut disc.

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Playing tips: Get It Again, Lets Get High

See also Rockhard, Jeff Jones, Spaced, St. Elmo’s Fire

The Redeye Radio Network, one of the largest rock stations on the internet have added songs from Vamp le Stat, Keester and Jeff Jones to their regular around the clock playlists.

Currently you can hear “Green” from  the Jeff Jones’ CD “Rockhard Vol 2″ , as well as”Hell to Pay” from Jones’ “Spaced” album. From Keester the songs “Nothing at All” and “Get it Again” are now in regular rotation as well.

And from Vamp Le Stat you can hear “Bitch” from “Bloodline” and “Thrill of the Kill” from “Bloodline 2”

XXX Records would like to thank everyone at Redeye but especially Norma Jean ,the world’s internet radio queen,  as well as Freedom Helena at the Sleaze train . Ya’ll Rock!!!

XXX Records America artists Vamp Le Stat , St. Elmo’s Fire and Jeff Jones are now getting airplay on one the internet’s largest rock radio networks, the Redeye Radio Network. Tonight March 5th from 7-10pm pacific time,  the queen of rock radio, Norma Jean, will be featuring XXX Records America and playing songs from several albums from Vamp Le Stat, Jeff Jones and St. Elmo’s Fire. You can catch the show here Redeye Radio Network

XXX Records would also like to thank Helena at Redeye  Radio for her support and playing our music also!!!

AAfter 26 years former lead singer, lyricist and Elmo co-founder Tim Raynor-Allwein will be reuniting with  guitarist and songwriter Jeff Jones for two performances. Jeff and Tim started St. Elmos Fire in 1978 in Northern California and played their last gig together in Hollywood in 1985!

The first performance will be April 1st live on the radio in Astoria Oregon on KCUN from 10PM to midnight (Pacific Time). The broadcast will be streamed live and can be heard online by going to coastradio.org

Click the [LISTEN] tab at the top of the coastradio web page.

Jeff and Tim will perform several songs in the studio including “Really in Love” ,”Summertime Girls” , “Not Thru With You” and several others. They will also  play various tracks from their recently released 4 volume set “REALLY IN LOVE: Psycho Rockers ’79-’84” on XXX Records America.

On April 2  at 9PM they will be in concert at the Fort George Brewery in Astoria and will play an acoustic set of St. Elmo’s Fire tunes also from their “Really in Love ” CD set.

Guitarist and songwriter Jeff Jones has launched XXX Records America. The label will initially be releasing 27 albums that Jeff has been associated with either as a performer or writer and will add new acts in the future.