by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)
The past five years have kept Johnny Steines plenty busy. His band Blue Ray have released a prolific amount of albums, EPs, and singles in that timeframe, on top of his contributions to The Calendars and The Chives. Having moved from Boston to New York City, Steines returns with Jean Mignon, a new solo project that blends together garage punk and scuzzy retro rock ‘n’ roll. For fans of Blue Ray’s more blown out records, this project captures the essence of those songs but with an added sense of clarity. It’s still lo-fi but this time around there’s less concern your ears might bleed. Set to self-release the vividly titled AN/AL on January 31st, we’ve got the premiere of the album’s lead single, “Rebel Ryder”.
With a restrained chug and proto-punk grit, “Rebel Ryder” is as much about its steely boogie as it is relentlessly driving. It’s a screaming rock ‘n’ track that plays out like a joy ride down a dark street, you don’t necessarily know what lies ahead, but it’s full throttle or nothing at all. There’s a big solo, big shouted hooks, and a reckless sort of freedom that comes with trading nuance for garage punk rawness. The lyrics capture that spirit with a sense of danger, impending death, and a penchant for drinking.