Single Review: The Reytons – Jukebox
A LOVE LETTER TO A BROKEN TOWN
‘Jukebox’ lands like a pint raised to the past, nostalgic, defiant and unmistakably Reytons at full throttle.
As the first glimpse into their upcoming album ‘A Love Letter To A Broken Town‘, it doesn’t just reintroduce the Rotherham outfit, it reaffirms exactly why they’ve built such a relentless grassroots following.
Pre-Order: ‘A Love Letter To A Broken Town’ here: https://thereytons.com/collections/a-love-letter-to-a-broken-town
From the off ‘Jukebox’ is steeped in working-class memory, there’s a warmth to it but it’s never soft, instead it’s delivered with the band’s trademark bite. Lyrically, it paints a picture of life within local pubs and working men’s clubs up and down the country, the kind of places where nights once buzzed with life, music mattered and connection felt real. The places where all eyes still flick up the moment an outsider walks through the door.
Frontman Jonny Yerrell sounds as sharp as ever, cutting through the guitars and driving rhythms with a delivery that balances wit and weight. There’s a familiarity to the sound, echoes of their earlier work but it feels tighter and more self-assured. This isn’t a band reinventing themselves, it’s a band doubling down on what they do best and doing it bigger.
What makes ‘Jukebox’ hit is its universality, while rooted in northern towns and specific lived experiences, the sentiment stretches far, far wider. Anyone who’s watched their local haunt fade or felt the shift in their community will find something to latch onto here. It’s social commentary without preaching, it’s observational, honest and wrapped in a chant-ready indie anthem.
If ‘Jukebox’ is the tone-setter, then ‘A Love Letter To A Broken Town‘ is shaping up to be a defining chapter. The record promises to balance those high-energy, chant-along moments with more reflective cuts, all tied together by the band’s knack for sharp, grounded storytelling.
It’s not about reinventing the wheel, it’s about refining it, sharpening every edge and making the message hit harder.
Jonny Yerrell explains:
“I honestly feel like this album is the best we’ve ever done! A lot of bands and artists like to change direction later in their careers, but that’s just not us. We absolutely love the style of music we make, the social commentary aspects and the people who turn up to jump around with us. Why would we change? Expect more, just bigger and better with a few surprises on the side!”
The record feels like a real turning point, not in direction but in depth balancing the band’s usual high-impact, chant-ready energy with more stripped-back, introspective moments that cut a little deeper. Tracks like ‘Busker’s Paradise’ play out almost cinematically, following a street performer trying to carve something out of a fading town, while ‘Hello, How Are You Today?’ leans into that familiar Reytons nostalgia but lifts it with a sense of optimism. Altogether, it shapes up as a dynamic, modern-sounding record that doubles down on their strongest asset which is honesty and hard-hitting storytelling.
It’s a statement that sums up both the single and the wider project perfectly, The Reytons standing firm in their identity, proving once again that doing things their way isn’t just working… it’s thriving.
You can catch The Reytons electric live shows at the following festivals.
June
11th Bergenfest, NORWAY
July
4th Rock Werchter Festival, BELGIUM
11th Mad Cool Festival, SPAIN
17th Benicassim Festival, SPAIN
31stY Not Festival, UK (Headlining)
August
21st Pstereo Festival, NORWAY
22nd Parkenfestivalen, NORWAY
