Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers – GLORY
“Would you like a drink or the keys to my place?” I never open a review like this, but I feel this line from TURN AROUND sums up GLORY, the lusty new release from Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers perfectly.
There is a slight pop aura around this album which softens it a little compared to their previous work. It’s a good choice, it swings a little more into Hayley Williams territory or Amyl and The Sniffers rather than a pure rock album. This experimentation with their style feels like an important step for Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers in their development as a band and it reflects an astute understanding of the current musical landscapes where there’s a consistent move away from being “just a guitar band” (or just anything really).
Personally, I also feel this sound suits them better, and I find I’m engaging more with the tracks that straddle this pop-rock sound on the album, such as Daylight, which is probably my favourite track on the record. The shift also helps lift the lyrics away from the guitars and your ear reaches for those fun little one liners that may otherwise have got a little lost. It puts the mood of the album and the individual tracks front and centre. I’m maybe digging too deep here but I feel it’s a band feeling braver about who they are, ready to stare you down until you get on board.
Thematically, my take-away is that it’s largely a fun lens on unrequited love, lust and being queer, although there are tracks that are a little more sombre, like MOTHER (interestingly one of the rockier numbers on the album). But overall, after listening to a lot of emotionally charged music recently, I’m happy to jump into something lighter and more fun.
I do think for future releases they’re going to have to move more solidly into one genre or another – even if it’s only for that release. Otherwise, that growth is going to get lost, but it works here and as it stands GLORY is a great collection of tracks. It’s got a good energy about it and that’s enough to carry it through any minor inconsistencies. It’s an album you enjoy listening to. I’ve listened to it a lot since Friday but even now the review’s finished I’ve found myself drawn back into it. Teen Jesus and The Jean Teasers have worked hard for every bit of the success they’ve built in recent years so it’s great to see them round off 2025 with such a strong release.
Find out more about Teen Jesus and The Jean Teasers here.