Reviews

"[The Jerrys'] new album is an enjoyable listen full of energetic and catchy guitar pop. The album opens with 'Alicia' which is full of superb pop hooks. The sound is reminiscent of great Power Pop bands of the 70s, especially one of my favourites - Flamin' Groovies. 

"The standout on the album is 'Love Me Now and Leave Me Never' which is melodic and instantly memorable, showing that simplicity is often the key with music. Other highlights include 'Lean on Me' which brought to mind the 60s Psych of The Seeds and The Rolling Stones. 'Just Us Three' has Americana vibes and is more stripped back with twangy guitars. 

"A superb album, and perfect listening for fans of more retro guitar music and Psych. Highly recommended." 

Julie Fowler, Colours Through the Air


"'Love Me Now and Leave Me Never' is such a classy song." 

Patrick Donders, Sweet Sweet Music Blog


"Lean on Me" is an upbeat, catchy track with a positive message, and is reminiscent of the best pop music from the '60s/'70s. 

Maria Savva, Rock and Roll & Other Sounds


"['Alicia'] takes us back to the heady days of 1970s power-pop, where US acts like The Raspberries and Big Star ruled...but perhaps would not have done if The Jerrys were around with this Brit influenced sound!" 

[Love Me Now and Leave Me Never]: "I often have a little gripe at the lack of the new (good) power-pop music coming through from the younger generation and my concerns that the genre may die with the brilliant sounds of middle-aged acts. However, when the music is this good the legacy, if that is what is must be, will be a glorious one!" 

Darrin Lee, JanglePopHub


"Despite a name implying the presence of a full-blown band, The Jerrys is just one guy, Jerry Schwartz, playing quaint melodies with a retro flair. His new EP, What The World Could Use A Lot More Of, features five songs of self-proclaimed "treblepop," including the humorous "Polly Urethane" and a straightforward cover of "Nowhere Man." With a total running time of just under 15 minutes, the effort is concise and captivating."

Jeff Berkwits, Illinois Entertainer


"Best of the Jerrys sounds like a cross between Toothpaste 2000 and those Jetset (and related) singles that appeared on Little Teddy in the early 90s, with basic Beatles-inspired indiepop songs (including a cover of "Ticket To Ride") and silly, pop culture-themed lyrics with titles like "Ann Taylor Girl" and "I Even Love You More Than Elizabeth Hurley." There are definitely some fun tunes on here, like "Telepop" (which is also featured as an instrumental version near the end), "Bridget And Me," and "Now And You."

IndiePages


"I guess it’s kind of weird for your first album by a band you’ve never heard of to be labeled a "Best of." Despite the pluralism in the name, this is the work of just Jerry Schwartz. Chicago’s guitarist/musician would probably be just as suited to claim London as his home. How do you know he’s influenced by Brit-pop? He covers "Ticket to Ride." His songs aren’t bad and he definitely has some lyrical twists."

J-Sin, Smother Magazine


"Jerryrigged is a "done it all by myself" collection of pop songs by Jerry Schwartz (aka The Jerrys). Knowing a good tune when he hears it, Schwartz wisely recaps the opening "Telepop"--possibly snatched from post-Brit Invasion '60s--as an instrumental-only closer....Clearly, Schwartz has solid pop talent and vision."

David C. Eldredge, Illinois Entertainer


"The Jerrys adhere to the same timeless post-British Invasion pop aesthetic that worked wonders for the likes of the Spongetones, 20/20, Dwight Twilley Band, Tommy Keene, Matthew Sweet, and the aforementioned Shoes. Neither “911” nor “Walking the Talk” would have sounded out of place on any early Shoes LP.

"Like all good guitar pop groups, The Jerrys take inspiration from the Beatles and Byrds and somehow manage to make a 40-year-old formula sound fresh and vital. Schwartz knows he’s not reinventing the wheel here. But he knows how to write a song with a melody, and he shows that he can get the job done minus the big-budget production and slick studio harmonies that often make pop bands sound better than they really are. Schwartz’s jangly, well-crafted tunes don’t break new ground, but they’re likable, pleasant, and catchy. And his nasally, slightly-dorky vocals are kind of charming in an odd sort of way.

"Every good pop record needs at least one “hit,” and here the hit is “Ann Taylor Girl,” an infectious, straight-ahead smash that marries Big Star-ish power pop splendor to distorted guitar racket a la The Who’s “I Can See for Miles” (You gotta love a songwriter who can come up with a line like "She's the anniest girl in the world"!) Also worth a listen is the playful, insidiously catchy opener “Telepop,” which is as tuneful and quirky as any first-rate “new wave pop” hit circa 1978.

"All in all, Jerryrigged [is] a pretty damn good EP. At only five songs (or six, if you count both versions of “Telepop”), it left me wanting more. That’s a good sign."

Joshua Rutledge, Now Wave Magazine


"Will the whole world sing? Well, let me state that [Schwartz] does have an appeal. The songs are Merseybeat-oriented pop, and are pretty catchy....There is definitely a cheesy quality that is common with basement tapes (a by-product of total self-control on relatively inexpensive equipment), but that should not deter the listener to this sound. It's important to support mega-solo artists, and Schwartz sweetens the deal."

RBF, Shredding Paper


"The Jerrys actually sound a lot like many of those American bands that hopped on the British Invasion bandwagon back in the 60's. Their (his) heart seems to be in the right place...sounds pleasant enough. A nice alternate name for the band might be Pronoun Trouble."

Conrad Teves, Demorama