Laughing Cats steps into the scene with the second song from their waterfall-drop styled album “Funny Money” entitled “Jerk”. Taking some of the ideas from the 80s and 90s but with the new and updated design the track is perfect mix of pop rock and alternative genres. That builds it up as a slow dance of great nostalgia the way it was recorded and remastered to fit into today’s music.
The pair is formed by the artistic soul Lauren Schiff who delivers dreamy but real emotions’ voice, and Tony Fredianelli from the band Third Eye Blind. Schiff’s singing voice is best here, her artistry captures the vulnerability of the role while also not sounding any weaker. When singing, she always empowers regret and self- reflection in her voice making the listeners feel like they are at the core of that song.
Lyrically ‘Jerk’ is much different from the conventional heartbreak tracks but still works with the theme It is not from a heartbroken person, it is from the ‘heartbreaker’ – the one who is the one at fault, having hit the rock bottom, wanting to change. Overall the lyrics are quite basic but deep, ranging from the sad clown concept that superficially makes one think about how silly they are but at deeper level it’s more of acceptable mode of melancholy. The song empowers listeners to accept one’s mistake, accept weakness and build oneself up together in a manner that appeals to the general vices of life.
Musically, “Jerk” boast of happy beat formations and proper production. The song starts off with a homage to the colorful sounds of the 60s through the 80s before launching full tilt into electronic rock with energy and introspection. Relative to its reflective topic, the song remains cheerful, like the dirty work of turning contestation of flaws into a cathartic and stealthily empowering process.
Through Schiff’s theatrical and passionate performance and Fredianelli’s talented musicianship the song comes out strong and easy to sing along to even after the song has ended. “Jerk” is all about the complexity of love, an inner change, and hope for improving one’s character
