Former Sacred Broncos guitarist Brian Jenkins and his wife Danisha form the core of Black Jet Radio, a new Fort Wayne-based band. Born in December of last year, Black Jet Radio were completed when Shelby Siefring and Danielle Teagarden were added to the mix. They wasted no time in recording their first album, Sex Sex Riot, which will be available April 29 during the band’s album release party inside the Tiger Room at CS3. While many may describe Black Jet Radio as a fresh take on The Kills, that’s too easy. Sex Sex Riot’s songs, though mostly short, show a complexity not prevalent in a lot of bands, even many with years more experience. One listen to the album’s outstanding single, “Dead Wine,” leaves you with no doubt as to the validity of that last statement. Hauntingly beautiful but edgy, “Dead Wine” is the type of song that grabs you from the start, puts you through the emotional turmoil you undoubtedly deserve, hangs you out to dry and still leaves you wanting more. 

The rest of the album, with the exclusion of opener “Haunt Me Now,” is decidedly more punk-oriented, reminiscent of female-fronted bands like Bikini Kill or Lunachicks rather than say, The Distillers. Blondie come to mind as well. Frontwoman Danisha Jenkins sings with a rare combination of both edge and maturity while still managing to appear vulnerable when the occasion calls for it.

My favorite songs, other than “Dead Wine,” are the more unconventional “Ugly” and “Love Me So.” Both of these songs are well-crafted and have hooks you’ll find yourself repeating in your sleep. 

As a whole, Sex Sex Riot is a tough album to put a label on, and that’s a good thing. It’s not necessarily prepackaged and manufactured for mass consumption, but I would count that as one of its selling points. It’s also not “like” any other album I have listened to recently, although the comparisons to artists eluded to earlier give you an idea of what the band sounds like. Regardless, there’s no doubt that the album’s raw energy mixed with clever writing makes Sex Sex Riot one of the standout local CDs of the past year. The only drawback is that it’s a bit on the short side, clocking at just less than 23 minutes. Wasn’t it Walt Disney who said, “Always leave them wanting more?” Well, I certainly want more.