Get Steady

Album Review

Not to be confused with an EP of the same name (and released the same year), "Get Steady" is the full-length debut by the New York City quartet, Jonny Lives. Usually when a new band offers an EP before a full-length, a few non-album tracks will be featured. But this turns out not to be the case with the "Get Steady" full-length, as all of the EP's five tracks are included — making the earlier release completely obsolete. Either way, the highlights of the EP also turn out to be the highlights here — singer/guitarist/songwriter Jonny Dubowsky lists classic British Invasion bands as his prime influence, but Weezer automatically comes to mind with such tracks as "Get Steady" and especially "Lost My Mind." Elsewhere, "Diamonds and Roses" sounds like a more polished New York Dolls tune, while several special guests drop by to lend a hand — the Strokes' Nick Valensi, the Mooney Suzuki's Sammy James, Jr., and Fountains of Wayne's Jody Porter. In the early 21st century pop-punk friendly climate, Jonny Lives has no problem fitting in — despite assuming a slightly more sophisticated angle than their sing-songy competition.