Album Reviews

Album Review: Junior Boys – Begone Dull Care (Domino)

By CMU Editorial | Published on Monday 11 May 2009

With their latest album ‘Begone Dull Care’, Ontario natives Junior Boys continue on their path of musical progression. Their 2004 debut ‘Last Exit’ was as inspired by contemporary hip hop production as it had been contemporary electronica. 2006’s ‘So This Is Goodbye’ hinted at the changes that have reached full fruition now; a streamlining of their sound, and sleeker and smoother production. Not that one should be concerned by this apparent abandonment of a previously successful formula. Although Junior Boys might not quite be combining genres and taking as many risks as before, there’s no doubt that their current phase suits them and that they pull off their simultaneously retro and forward looking electronic sound well. And there’s still room for experimentation. Head Junior Boy Jeremy Greenspan had contributed to Caribou’s 2007 album ‘Andorra’, a blissed out piece of psychedelic and folk-influenced electronica. ‘Dull To Pause’ continues in this vein, starting with mandolin, supported by subtle waves of synthesisers that never threaten to overtake. Elsewhere, lead single ‘Hazel’ uses the kind of funk-inspired sound that Chromeo have embraced as their own. But this is no ironic pastiche, with Greenspan’s light-as-a-feather vocals crooning a lovelorn lament. What’s noticeable in his vocal and lyrical approach now is its confidence, where it had once been hesitant. The Junior Boys of ‘Last Exit’ era would never have written anything as overt as ‘Work’, with Greenspan’s unsubtle call for his partner to “work it, baby, work it”. Other highlights include opening track ‘Parallel Lines’ and the more melancholic, sax-laden ‘Sneak a Picture’. With only eight tracks but a 47 minute running time, it’s hardly an album of economy, but even by Junior Boys’ impossibly high standards, ‘Begone Dull Care’ is a very fine record indeed. KW

Buy from iTunes
Buy from Amazon