“If That Makes Sense” is Spacey Jane’s third album in nine years and their most refined work so far. Yet, the ten new tracks and three great singles that were released in anticipation of the record don’t tell us anything about the band we didn’t already know. 

The intro track fades into a deep, satisfactory exhale from lead singer Caleb Harper.

Heavy, swinging guitars grab your hand and take off running. Immediately, the Aussie rockers make it clear they’re on a mission with their new record. A mission to prove they’re more than just a little indie band from Fremantle. They’ve transcended the Australian indie sphere and they’re here to stay. That much is clear. Spacey Jane will continue to make catchy, indie-rock hits that grab the attention of alternative rock lovers all over the world. And that’s great. Satiating even. However, as a fan (all biases reserved of course), the record was just that. Catchy. Well-crafted. But that’s about all. 

Now, it’s not to say the band hasn’t improved. They’ve certainly made progress since their 2022 record, “Here Comes Everybody” where most of their fans did in fact, come to know them. The pure musicianship shines through on this new record in a way that it did not and seemingly could not on previous records.

However, “If That Makes Sense” is an album that, unfortunately, never outdoes, or moreover, outgrows its leading singles. It’s a record that is so well done, so shiny and full of glee, that it’s almost lost its identity along the way. Their identity, once deeply, palpably rooted in Western Australia, has faded into that of a faceless indie band after spending “the best part of two years,” in Los Angeles. The production is immaculate, the instrumentation is touching perfection, the vocals are clean and raw and powerful and yet, not a single lyric feels memorable — except, perhaps, for being catchy. 

The group’s new record is mostly a series of repeating riffs followed by a slowed, somber pre-chorus that’s salvaged by its redeeming catchy hooks and lush, sparkling production from producer Mike Crossey. If anyone deserves a shout, it’s Crossey, who’s worked with other pop-rock artists like The 1975 and Arctic Monkeys. Crossey flawlessly executed this record and has earned his place among some of the great rock producers. 

“If That Makes Sense” feels like a breakup album about a relationship that never actually happened — its lyrics lack the passion and specificity of real experience. The track “Impossible to Say” is filled with so much promise. The acoustic guitar breaks through the mix like a well-placed punch to the gut, and the buildup teases a powerful chorus. But when it finally arrives, the song takes a sharp turn into cheap Beach Boys-style bubblegum pop — more suited to a surf-rock cover band you’d see at a tiki bar. This feeling largely encapsulates the entire album. It feels like an intensely gratifying rush of emotion about to happen but never does. 

It should be mentioned that two of their preliminary singles, “Through My Teeth” and “All the Noise,” are some of their most ambitious and well-executed works yet. It should also be mentioned that the person writing this article is a fan, and will be seeing them when they get the chance. And perhaps the issues lie less with the band’s work and more with the indie-rock scene in general.

Recently, bands that used to push the paradigm and innovate their sound with every project now feel as though they’re making music fit for retail shops. The songs feel like a summer day spent perusing the aisles with your mother at Marshall’s — not necessarily a bad thing. They lack any personality or genuine depth that might evoke emotion. 

Spacey Jane’s new record, “If That Makes Sense,” is great for a speaker on a summer day with friends, where everyone is pleased with the tunes, but nobody cares enough to ask the name of the track. 

[email protected]

@brodenleibforth.bsky.social