Junior Boys

[nfotxn]

"This is where The Wire aesthetic meets early ‘80s Smash Hits..... It’s hard to believe there will be a better record than Last Exit released this year"[***** UNCUT]

"brave new world of electro-pop... much more interested in mucking about with present day technology than simply recreating the past. very wise." [**** Q magazine]

"continues to reveal new charms and ingenious dimensions with each listen" [brainwashed]

"...the Junior Boys remain relatively unknown, still a synthetic star in the ascendancy. If there is any justice, Last Exit will change all that..a truly excellent album, one of the best of 2004 so far." [dusted]

"Junior Boys' spectral vision of electronic pop is an understated, unpredictable delight." [**** The Guardian]

"So much has already been written about Junior Boys’ extraordinary electronic pop music that adding to the reams of text at first seems a little unnecessary. However, most of these embarrassingly complimentary words have appeared online in weblogs and dedicated sites penned by switched-on high-profile enthusiasts, whose thoughtful, analytical critiques of whatever floats their boat on any given day have effectively become the new music journalism, where those disillusioned with the sorry state of writing found in today’s music and style magazines go for informed and edifying prose.

This is where the buzz surrounding the Canadian trio began, just before the release of their debut “Birthday” EP last year, and where it’s continued to build steadily, spilling over into mainstream publications and on to the radio, picked up by DJs, label types, tastemakers and freaks. There’s no hype, no fanfare accompanying this group’s assured ascent because Junior Boys are not particularly fashionable (yet) and their sensitive, soulful, serene sound tends to provoke a reflective, measured response from those who hear it, rather than the usual premature ejaculation of superlatives. Critics like Junior Boys records because they remind them of so many other groups and producers from the past, without really sounding like anyone but themselves. And critics love to try to categorise, to pin down this band’s distinctive style but, as you’ll appreciate when you play the album, that’s a tricky thing to do.

You can say that Last Exit, the album, sounds like X doing Y with Z if you like, but it’s the songs – the magnetic, mesmeric songwriting of Jeremy Greenspan – that stay with you long after the comparisons have faded from memory. His songs are vulnerable and sentimental without being wet, romantic and tender without resorting to cliché. Junior Boys’ music is cutting-edge but easy on the ear. They discreetly use clever arrangements and advanced techniques to make their synth-pop as human as possible. They have a talent for writing familiar songs in an unfamiliar way, and for writing unfamiliar songs in a familiar way. This music has never been underground as such, it’s just that no-one’s really aware of it yet. It’s classic pop, tailormade for mass appeal. Perhaps if they performed these songs using guitars rather than keyboards they might already be bigger stars.

You should always be suspicious of albums that you fall instantly in love with after that whirlwind first listen. Last Exit enchants only after a few spins; it’s difficult at first but do persevere. You know it’s good – not because everyone says it is – but because the melodies, the spot-on beats, and Jeremy’s vocals soon tease out the goosebumps. In any field this would be recognised as a strong debut album, not just at a time when there are so few decent electronic pop albums to get excited about. This is far more than a couple of singles and too much filler. Last Exit succeeds in every respect as an album because Junior Boys execute their ideas with style and grace. This is charming music for a charmless age, an old-fashioned style of pop performed in an exciting new way. No one’s saying Junior Boys will change your life, that would be silly. But they’ll certainly surprise you, if you let them." [Vice Magazine]

Hamilton's own Junior Boys are making a bit of a stink in the UK and here at home these days. I've seen them at gigs here and there in the city but I'm not a particularly good "taste maker" when it comes to live performance. I really have to listen to a record and focus on the music. Now that I've got a copy of "Last Exit" I really have to chime in and heartily approve of their record. It's just such an unexpected and subtle sort of sound. 80's synthpop re-contextualized rather than re-created.

Junior Boys - Bellona

Anyhow, they are opening to Manitoba this friday, a show not to be missed. I think it's proof how much this town rules. Even with Toronto and Montreal pumping out great bands like Broken Social Scene, Metric, Stars etc. Hamilton always seems to hold it's own despite being such a tiny city, comparatively. I really believe thatmedium-sized towns tend to conceal their culture. As opposed to big cities where it's all about the politicking, networking and getting noticed. When it comes to vital creative culture scale seems to be really important.

Comments

[lfkbear.livejournal.com]

I'm a big fan of Junior Boys. They're one of the few acts out there right now dipping into the '80s without sounding coy or nostalgic. Love 'em!

[nfotxn.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I mean I wasn't really around for pop in the 80s. But they still sound fresh to me. They bring a bit of quirkiness to the table on top of the synthpop sound.

[slumberjack.livejournal.com]

Hm, that's a good track! Thanks! They need a new name though. :-/

[nfotxn.livejournal.com]

It's not so bad! What's wrong with it?!

Re: junior junior

[slumberjack.livejournal.com]

It reminds me too much of that goofy Junior Senior band that was popular last year. And then Junior Varsity from before... But I can keep my Black Box Rebel Motorcyle Stripe Strokes straight, so it's not really a problem I guess.

[bleepkeeper.livejournal.com]

I really believe thatmedium-sized towns tend to conceal their culture. As opposed to big cities where it's all about the politicking, networking and getting noticed. When it comes to vital creative culture scale seems to be really important.

I agree, with some reservations. The scene has to reach some sort of critical mass WRT people to perform and people to watch (and places to perform) in order for interesting things to continue and build or things turn into one flash in the pan after another. (There's an internal combustion engine metaphor waiting in the wings here, but I'm letting it sit there.) It's possible that any sized town has the same percentage of bedroom stars, but it's a bit hard to verify that unless there's some way to coax them out.

And yeah, the Junior Boys are lovely, although I thought that "Last Exit" wasn't quite as solid as either of the earlier EPs. Still nice, though.