The Mystery Jets isn’t a band that would jump straight into your head as recognizable, but rest assured, after listening to this album, it wont be long until they will be.

The bands previous album, Making Dens, caused quite a stir when it was released two years ago, with the band being hailed as the king of 80’s revival. Its quite a big name to take, but from the first album, it was deserved. The band had been quoted as THE band reviving the eighties and ‘how they plan to take over the world.’
The new album, Twenty One, again focuses with 80’s The Cure inspired melodies, with a punchy electronica/indie feel to it. Up to the pre-release of the album, the band released a free Christmas single, ‘Flakes’, which features on the new album. The song is beautifully executed, with the bubble-pop guitar strumming swiftly moving from three different melodies, beginning woeful, then bright, spunky Duran Duran like chords, and then to a more Cure sound. The song is a highlight of a very colourful and bright album. Hideaway gives away a punchy electronica bassline, and a magnificent and simple, powerful voice to accompany it.

Perhaps the two highlights on the album is ‘Young Love’ and ‘Two Doors Down’. The first two singles off the album, both are extremely catchy, extremely enjoyable 80’s alternative music, with a more modern approach to it. ‘Two Doors Down’ has the energy of Deryck Whibley, and yet the passionate, soft voice of Robert Smith that works beautifully. ‘Half in Love with Elizabeth’ tells the story of a young man in love with two people and jealousy, which, in all honestly, cliched. But with a melody thrown together thats too tempting to resist, its hard not to like. ‘Veiled in Grey’ has a more modern Indie sound to it, with its Futurehead-like guitar riffs, and works very well. ‘MJ’ would definately be a contender for pop song of the year.
Theres no doubt that these guys are going places, and its hard not to love this album. But its hard to figure where this band is going. There simply isnt any market for this band to fit into at the moment with a plethora of talented bands already filling the slots, but one things for sure, there damn well close to it. This is one of the essential alternative/pop albums of the year, and expect great things from this band.