Influences: 5 Alt-Rock Albums that Influenced Jaws The Shark

On his debut album, ‘Wasteland’, multi-instrumentalist Jaws The Shark (aka Olly Bailey) explores various shades of the rock spectrum. For example, lead single ‘California’ is a fuzz-laden earworm. Its title track rumbles with a carefree punk spirit whereas ‘Got It Made’ offers up some gritty riffs. Moving on there are flashes of grunge (‘Lately’), and sombre country (‘Last Train To Santa Fe’), before ‘Rejoice or Pray’ reigns things. Its atmospheric presentation sees Bailey explore a failed relationship with religious connotations. It’s quickly followed up by the equally reflective ‘Nothing Lasts’, embracing harmonious, soft indie rock in the process.

Throughout its ten tracks, Jaws The Shark isn’t afraid to take chances and his delivery is assured constantly. Its later moments emphasise this as ‘Summer Puddle’ is executed with plenty of charisma, and ‘End of an Era’s bass line throbs under the weight of anthemic punk. And while its title suggests Bailey is living in a “wasteland”, its finale, ‘Just Popping Out For Forever’, gives the impression he’s content where he is. If anything, Jaws The Shark, delivers a cohesive album with a personal narrative, fuelled by internal and external pressures.

Without a doubt, ‘Wasteland’ has its fair share of towering anthems, prospering in its noisy garage punk rock skin. It’s also a record that is littered with stylistic nods to the bands and albums that have shaped Olly Bailey’s musical identity.

As ‘Wasteland’ gets its full release, we thought it’d be good to ask Olly to tell us about five alt-rock albums that he considers influential.

At The Drive-In – Relationship of Command

I can’t really remember the time I got into this record, I just remember being obsessed with it. Compared to other ATDI (albums), it’s probably their cleanest in terms of production, which I know the band don’t particularly like. However, for me, it’s the perfect result of trying to polish an unpolished band, and I mean that in the best way possible. The song ‘Cosmonaut’ sounds like the world is coming to an end, it’s beautiful.

Nirvana – Nevermind

Probably the most obvious and widely used influence, but it’s undeniable! I actually didn’t get into Nirvana until quite late into my musical upbringing. Although ‘Nevermind’ is my favourite Nirvana record, My favourite Nirvana song is either ‘Aneurysm’ or ‘You Know You’re Right’. I just love all of Nirvana to be honest; the rawness, the not giving a fuck attitude, the boldness, the drum sound… everything. When I got into them, I REALLY got into them.

Weezer – Weezer (The Blue Album)

What is there to say about this record that hasn’t already been said before… it’s amazing, from start to finish. This record had a huge influence on me. The melodies, the dorkiness, the guitar tone… all of it.

Weezer have an amazing knack of writing real arms in the air singalong choruses and that’s something that has definitely rubbed off on me from a songwriting perspective.

Pixies – Doolittle

My favourite Pixies record by far! It’s the record that has all of the most recognised Pixies tracks on it that people still know and love today. It’s a super diverse sounding record, goes from nice, to soft, to weird, to heavy, screamy etc. The chord progression from ‘Here Comes Your Man’ is probably one of the most influential of the past 30 odd years, there have been so many songs that have used it and every time I hear something sounding remotely similar, I immediately think of this record. It’s timeless.

Dinosaur Pile-Up – Growing Pains

I’ve been best mates with DPU for the past 10 years or so! I used to work with them and tour the world with them, so we’re super tight. Mike (Sheils) from the band often drums with me when we play live and has recorded drums on most of the tracks I’ve put out. I’ve seen them play the tracks from ‘Growing Pains’ hundreds of times and it’s not so much the album that’s an influence on me, but more the people in the band as a whole, we’ve grown up together and I can safely say that JTS wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for them.

‘Wasteland’ by Jaws The Shark is out now on SO Recordings.

Jaws The Shark will be touring the UK in September.

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