Nine years since their debut LP, The Jealous Sound has emerged with their sophomore full-length A Gentle Reminder, to be released through Burnt Toast Vinyl. Their debut album Kill Them With Kindness was embraced by critics worldwide, named one of Spin\’s best albums of 2003 and described by writer Andy Greenwald as \”heartfelt guitar rock capable of punching you in the gut and patting you on the back.\”

After taking time away from the band, frontman Blair Shehan reconnected with founding guitarist Pedro Benito, whose friendship with Nate Mendel (Foo Fighters) helped The Jealous Sound land an opening spot on the 2009 tour for the bassist\’s previous band, emo pioneers Sunny Day Real Estate. The old juices started flowing.

Made in the Foo Fighters\’ Studio 606 with John Lousteau producing, A Gentle Reminder features founding members Shehan and guitarist Benito working alongside Mendel (filling in on bass for the departed John McGinnis) and new drummer Bob Penn. Josh Staples (the Velvet Teen) contributes backing vocals and bass on two tracks.

How the quartet coalesced to recapture the magic is a labyrinthine tale that covers three states and includes a lot of emotional baggage. The life lessons are revealed in the grandeur of the new album, a poignant and emotional triumph that not only proves a worthy successor to Kill Them With Kindness, but reveals the foursome at the top of its craft. Open-hearted, yes, but not really gentle at all, A Gentle Reminder represents a 44-minute epiphany set to cascading guitars, thundering rhythms and Shehan\’s evocative vocals.