June 12th, 2025 - I May be Doubly Hazy, but at Least I Look Sharp!

 

Hey there rockers, rollers, and hopheads!  Happy Thursday!  The Meista here this evening pairing "Look Sharp!", the wonderful debut album by Joe Jackson and a hoppy and bold The Double Hazy India Pale Ale from Ska Brewing!

Album Info:

• Artist: Joe Jackson
• Title: "Look Sharp!"
• Recorded: August 1978 at Eden Studio in London, England
• Release date: January 29th, 1979 (1st studio album by Joe Jackson)
• Record company: A&M / PolyGram Records
• Production: David Kershenbaum
• Album cover art: Brian Griffin (photography)
• Personnel: Joe Jackson (lead vocals, piano, and harmonica) with David Houghton (drums), Graham Maby (bass), and Gary Sanford (guitars)
• Musical style: Pub rock, new wave, post punk with elements of reggae and pop
• Sound: Heavily influenced by reggae music and a hint of late '70s English punk, the sound on "Look Sharp!" is upbeat, rockin', and very engaging!  Of the album's sound, Jackson stated in more recent years, "a lot of the tracks are first takes and there are no overdubs, though we think now it is a bit thin. We wanted a bit more live band sort of sound. In retrospect you always feel there's something you can improve on."
• Major themes: Relationships, love, desire, loss, social commentary, attitude, rebellion, the passing of time, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "One More Time"
2. "Sunday Papers"
3. "Is She Really Going Out With Him?"
4. "Happy Loving Couples"
5. "Throw It Away"
6. "Baby Stick Around"
7. "Look Sharp!"
8. "Fools In Love"
9. "(Do The) Instant Mash"
10. "Pretty Girls"
11. "Got The Time"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Ska Brewing (Durango, Colorado)
• Website: www.skabrewing.com 
• Brew: The Double Hazy India Pale Ale
• Style: Double India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 9.2%
• Pour: The Double Hazy pours a very hazy golden-orange hue with a frothy, off-white, 1.5-finger head that displays great retention and sustained, layered lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by a blend of citrus, floral dankness, sweet malt, and hearty grain.  There are aromas of grapefruit juice, tangerine, pine resin, sweet caramel, multi-grain bread, and a hint of nuts.
• Taste: Following the nose, the taste of the Double Hazy, is bitter, sweet, citrusy, and malty.  There are notes of grapefruit rind, tangerine peel, lemon zest, pine, sweet caramel and burnt toffee, hearty bread, bitter herbs, and a touch of black pepper and a slight booziness.
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is sharp, bitter, sticky, and oily with a dry, bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The punchy, bitter, aggressive, yet sweet flavors of Ska Brewing's bold The Double Hazy India Pale Ale is great for the punky, pop, rock and roll sensibility of Joe Jackson on his wonderful debut album "Look Sharp!"!  'Nuff said!

Cheers!!