new music: stream jules and the jinks’ effortlessly chill debut ep #soundcheck

Jules and the Jinks is a band that unabashedly wears their influences on their sleeves. A little 50’s rock n roll, a little soul, a little classic rock, a little R&B, lots of tenor sax. Add a tight rhythm section and the inimitably powerful vocals of lead singer Julissa Lopez, and you get their debut self-titled EP.

By Nathan Leigh, AFROPUNK Contributor

The opening track “Make You Cry” nods to Wayne Cochran’s 1964 classic “Last Kiss,” with enough freshness to feel new. The slow jam “I’m Not Like That” lets the band’s tight pocket shine, switching it up from a deep groove to an explosive reggae breakdown. It’s these moments that show that Jules and the Jinks has more than Julissa’s ease with a hook. This is a band with some chops.

The effortlessly chill “No Compromise,” which we featured back in April, shines here as the standout track. Tellingly, it’s the song that best synthesizes Jules and the Jinks’ myriad influences into something new. On the closing track “Where Do We Go From Here,” guitarist Erik Rosenberg puts on his best Jimmy Page, while tenor sax player Jeff Richardi is finally afforded the room to stretch his legs a little. Throughout the EP, he bounces off of Julissa Lopez’s stratospheric vocals, but here they truly duet. It’s the kind of track that makes you want to see them live. But in the meantime, check out their EP.