Album: Death of the Heart
Artist: JER
Released: August 15, 2025; Bad Time Records
If you are a casual ska enjoyer you might know Jeremy Hunter as the person behind the wildly popular ska cover themed YouTube channel, Skatune Network. Or perhaps you know them as the Trombonist from the band, We are the Union. However, if you are a serious ska enthusiast, you know them from their first solo album released under the band name of JER. It was called, “Bothered/Unbothered” and it was exceptionally good, so much so that I have waited ever since for a new JER record to be released so that I could do a proper and timely review.
“I’M STILL BOTHERED” starts the album out with what I like to call a call back song. It’s a little self referential Easter Egg for the fans that were along for the ride since the first album. Which is something I greatly enjoy. The song is about the emotions you feel, fighting just to feel ‘ok’ in a world that is tearing itself apart and the alienation that it breeds when the majority of everyone else is blind to that fact. It makes you doubt yourself. The track is a rollercoaster ride that captures what it’s like to be awake today. All while being set to an incredibly energetic arrangement of horns and guitar.
While I am not at all surprised, I can’t say that I was personally expecting for JER to deliver a deep meditation on toxic masculinity, but with “Claim Yr True Feelings, Wounded Child” that is exactly what you get. The horn and melody really do work to saturate the track with a soulful sadness that seeps into you. The lyrics honestly melt my heart. It’s a great reminder to any father/parent that the best thing you can be is softer to your kids. Sometimes, I know I need to be reminded of that. I am sure everyone else does as well.
I think that one of the best things that this album brings to the table is the strength of the featured artists. While I would listen to a JER album endlessly without them, making the world a better place is a group activity. Making the world better, being a theme of the album. It’s great to see JER put their money where their mouth is. I think the best example of this is “Capitalism Breeds Devastation”. The blending of Hip-hop and Ska brings two genres historically known for speaking truth to power together for a team up that rips into the system and those that perpetuate it. Chanting greed through the last half song all the way to screaming it as the song fades out at the end is just inspired.
“Death of the Heart” much like their first album wears it’s politics not only on it’s sleeve but as a badge of honor and challenges you to want better, not just for yourself, but for everyone around you. JER has done it once more, and I, for one, can’t wait for them to do it again on their next album.
If you like the album I reviewed here and want to support the artist as well as this blog please consider picking up the album via this affiliate link—> Purchase Death of the Heart by JER digitally via Amazon Music