Hail Mary

Countless bands have fused rock with hip-hop in the 1980s and 1990s. A short list would range from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Faith No More and Living Colour to Anthrax, Rage Against the Machine, 24-7 Spyz and Sevendust. What separates Mister Jones apart from the pack are its power-pop leanings. While those bands have often favored brute force and a forceful, metallic attrack, Mister Jones combines hip-hop and reggae with melodic pop/rock on its promising debut album, Hail Mary. Infectious, catchy hooks are the rule on "Roses and Daisies," "Destiny," "Right Hand Man" and other tunes that make Hail Mary the engaging, fun offering that it is. A few reviewers noted some parallels between Mister Jones and Chumbawamba, and that isn't a bad comparison on "What Now" and "Uncle Bill's Ride." But whatever comparisons one chooses to make, the bottom line is that Mister Jones is a risk-taking band with an appealing and recognizable personality of its own.