Eyesore & the Jinx Return With New Single ‘An Ideas Man’
Liverpool trio Eyesore & the Jinx are back with a brand new single, An Ideas Man. Consisting of members Josh Miller (vocals, bass), Liam Bates (guitar) and Eoghan Robinson (drums), the band’s sound takes influence from English post-punk bands.
Released on 7 March, the track marks their first new music in over two years, since previous single Accidental Weller (2020), after spending time working on new material and gigging, supporting the likes of Bodega, DITZ and Working Men’s Club. An Ideas Man was recorded in Summer 2022 at Yellowbird Studio with Daniel Fox (Gilla Band), the producer of their debut EP The Exile Parlour (2020).
Eyesore’s lyrical repertoire often consists of “ugly narratives centred around vile fictional characters”, taking inspiration from what is happening in the world around them, and writing about “the worst of society (the eyesore), but with a playful side (the jinx)”. This song writing approach is seemingly consistent with An Ideas Man, which tells the story of a greedy landlord, critiquing a wider picture of “exploitation masquerading as philanthropy”.
An Ideas Man is built around a fairly minimalistic arrangement, with steady drums and bass providing a solid anchor throughout, whilst the varied guitar work elevates the track, at times bringing a sense of urgency. The song incorporates elements that have been staples in much of the band’s previous music, from blaring guitar riffs and dynamic drum rhythms to Miller’s distinctive spoken-word vocal style, with a focus on lyrics and vocal rhythm. “Recently I decided I was gonna become a parasite” / “I was gonna look out for number one, ‘cause I’m an ideas man”. Miller explains it briefly: “In short, it’s about how much I fucking hate landlords”.
Eyesore & the Jinx stand out for their adept use of character-building and storytelling, in delivering punchy, on-the-nose lyricism to discuss topics that are relatable to many yet are often undiscussed in popular music. With lots of new music recorded, an album announcement imminent and several live dates lined up – including headlining Liverpool’s Kazimier Stockroom later this month – 2023 is certainly off to a promising start for Eyesore & the Jinx, An Ideas Man giving fans the first taster of what the band have in store.
Stream Eyesore & the Jinx’s An Ideas Man here and give them a follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates.
Jude Bankier
