J.J. Chamberlain’s Indie Pop-Rock Anthem ‘Eyeballs’ Is An Ode To The ’90s Alt-Rock-Scene
J.J. Chamberlain, known as the frontman of Box Time and the lead guitarist of the Love Barons, dropped his second solo jam, ‘Eyeballs,’ hot on the heels of his debut, ‘Tired of Christmas,’ which hit the digital shelves last December. While supporting Mammabear on his recent UK tour, he bumped into drummer Takashi Takemura. That meetup sparked a collaboration on J.J.’s solo venture. Drawing inspiration from the early ‘90s alt-rock-scene, mixed with elements of grunge and new wave vibes, ‘Eyeballs’ presents a fusion of alternative indie rock with a pop twist. And get this, the whole shebang is run solely by J.J.
Starting with some shimmering sound effects, ‘Eyeballs’ piqued my interest when the catchy guitar riffs and the up-tempo beat of the drums blasted through my speakers. The sound and energy gave me a proper Oasis vibe. J.J. Chamberlain’s melodic pop vocals have a nice soft sound, beautifully enhanced when the backing vocals join the mix, yet they cut through with clarity. I’d liken the song’s vibe to a mashup of Suede, The Lightning Seeds, and The Bluetones.
I absolutely love the mid-range sound of the guitars. They’re proper ’90s, a decade that’s close to my heart, especially in terms of guitar sound. None of that overly polished stuff, just raw and dry. In my book, they’re the standout feature of the song. As the song gradually builds towards the chorus, I have to be honest, I was expecting a more explosive and proper climax. However, that aside, the song’s got all the makings of a solid indie pop-rock anthem. Following the bridge, there’s a melodic solo on the guitar that adds a fresh layer to the mix as well.
‘Eyeballs’ marks the debut release from J.J.’s upcoming album, currently cooking up in the mixing studio. It was penned back in 2023, during a rough spell for J.J., with stress and struggles aplenty. But 2024’s kicked off on a brighter note, and now he’s gearing up to drop a load of tunes. We’re definitely keen to hear more of those catchy guitar hooks from this talented muso. Great work!
