Lighthouse Records – 18 Apr 2025
Jay Gauvin may just be the hardest working man in pop punk. He made a name for himself through many years and releases with his primary band The Prozacs. In more recent years though, his attention has seemed to shift toward his solo work under the J Prozac banner. Last year’s full-length Obsession was a great introspective into the mind and talents of Jay. He is ready now to unleash a new single onto the world.
The A Side “Take Me Away” is a power pop roller coaster. It is chock full of all you would expect and want from a track of this style. The song opens with a mid-tempo beat accompanied by a tasty and signature pop punk guitar lead. What is worth pointing out is what seems to me an unconventional song structure. The chorus vocal lines feel more like a pre-chorus that leads to an instrumental chorus. Either way, it works well in breaking up any monotony. It should also be pointed out that there are plenty of well crafted backing vocals throughout the verses and pre-chorus. The B Side is a cover of “On My Own” which was originally written and performed by the German band The Bates. I fully admit to not being familiar with this band prior to hearing the cover. After listening to this version, I went back to listen to the original. Jay does a great job of performing a contemporary take while paying homage to the original version. This song is heartfelt and emotional, but rocks throughout. This is a fun and mature power pop song that will stick in your head. The chorus showcases Jay’s vocal abilities and range really well.
As a long time fan and follower of the Prozacs, it is good to see Jay branch out more with his solo work. I feel he is using this format to differentiate his classic Ramonescore-style efforts. The lyrics are equally emotional and introspective. Musically, it opens the door for more variety of influences to creep into the mix. These two songs are worth your time if you need a break from the standard pop punk bubble!
The 7″ is now streaming across Bandcamp and other streaming services. The future release date shown above is for the physical copies of the 7″.
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I am mostly known in cyberspace as a vinyl junkie and punk rock bassist! Fair assessment. I am the bassist of the Chicago area power pop / pop punk band SPACE AGE ZEROS.
