With
their debut album Restless, South Australians
Junior produce melodic acoustic guitar pop that
should, but never will, be all over popular radio.
It is hard to imagine radio embracing Junior’s acoustic
sound, even though the trio produce a remarkably
full sound that portrays a pop sensibility superior
to the fodder now playing over the airwaves.
Junior
traverse a range of styles through Restless,
from the overtly folk “The Shame of Going Back”
(whose lyrics are adapted from Henry Lawson’s poem
of the same title), to “Into the Blue” which, with
its acoustic riffing and aggressive drum introduction,
is the closest thing to a rock song. However, the
comfort zone of Junior is the mid-tempo pop song,
such as the melodic “Maybe She’s in the Next Town”.
The best moments come when a sense of urgency prevails,
driving “Room for Improvement” and “Love Up Ahead”.
“Room for Improvement” is particularly memorable
for its frantic strumming and unrestrained yells;
Junior really enjoy themselves.
The
polished production accentuates the three members’
musical abilities; the bright sound of the album
highlights the intricate guitar licks and ostinatos
that pervade “Saturday Morning” and enhance the
yearning “Tonight”. Justin Slater’s vocals are solid
throughout, although in the sensitive “Mrs Page”
he reveals a soulful edge that is tantalising. The
backing vocals are never pedestrian, providing flourishes
that are vital in “Secret Life” and “Saturday Morning”.
This musical polish would be nix without the songs,
but Junior have strong songs. The three have a particular
knack for building tension through the song, especially
evident in “Tonight” and “Love Up Ahead”.
Restless
is an excellent pop album from an accomplished acoustic-based
band. The songs are filled with hooks, making them
a joy to listen to. This is the album’s main fault;
the songs are consistently catchy, which - combined
with the predominant musical texture of acoustic
guitar and drums - makes them hard to distinguish.
Consequently, Restless is an album that requires
repeated spins, although the subtleties of the songs
soon emerge. Nevertheless, Junior underline unequivocally
the joys and power of pop music, without a single
drum loop or bared midriff.
Track Listing:
1. Secret Life
2. Tonight
3. Saturday Morning
4. Into The Blue
5. Sad But It's True
6. Waiting At The Station
7. Maybe She's In The Next Town
8. The Shame Of Going Back
9. Room For Improvement
10. Breakdown
11. Mrs Page
12. Love Up Ahead
Reviewed by Michael Tran
