Customer Reviews

Heroes From the Future

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After I got Junction 18's Vicious Cycle, I listened to it a few times and liked a few songs, but I could never get into it. All of the songs seemed to go together and only a couple really stood out. The vocals were also too quiet and you can't really hear what is being said. All flaws from that cd are corrected with the CD Heroes from the Future. This is one of the best cd's I've heard in a long time. All 6 songs are absolutely awesome, sing-along-catchy. These guys also produce eccentric thought-provoking lyrics. These guys would probably be considered pop-punk, but aren't trying to appeal to mass audiences with their image and stupid teen-angst lyrics. These guys matured an incredible amount from their last cd. I would recommend this cd to anyone. BUY IT.

I wasn't thrilled with their occasionally catchy debut, but it was enough to hook me into this EP, which is really something. The more I like EPs the more I hate them, because just about the time I'm really digging them they're over. But I keep walking over to my CD player (I can't afford a system with a remote) and playing this one over and over again. It's a great array of neopunk rock: There's nothing on here that's not *extremely* listenable, and there are a couple of songs (li'l joey, the weight) that are so far out I had to exclaim, "Oh my word."

Anyway, the album's over again and I'm momentarily pissy. I wish they would release their next LP already. Ugh, here I go again...oh my word.

I don't know if Junction 18 would regard their music as pop punk or not, but I will briefly pigeonhole them only for the purposes of making a point: These guys prove that pop punk can be a truly musical, talented affair and does not reside only in the domain of many of the popular major-label, formulaic, cookiecutter "pop-punk" bands.

Junction 18's amazing debut album, This Vicious Cycle, is easily one of the best albums I have ever heard (buy it!), and this EP picks up where Cycle left off. The production is slicker here, but in a good way--the sound is great, and does even greater justice to the talents of the band than did their debut. The drumming and bass is great, but it is really the vocals and guitar that stand out. Andy Bristol's vocals have great range and power and guitarists Ryan McHugh and Chris Kelley produce kickass, catchy riffs and melodies matched by few bands in the punk/melodic rock/power pop/whatever-the-hell- you-want-to-call-it scene. Every song has a distinct flavour and is a sing-a-long affair. I have heard few bands that write songs as good as Junction 18. The lyrics are not the cheesy boring limericks so characteristic of one-hit-wonder pop punk, and Ryan and Chris do a lot more with their guitars than simple "standard progression" bar chords. I love every song, particularly "Life is a Racetrack" with its amazing, heartfelt bridge; "Lil' Joey" and its powerful, strap-your-guitar-on-your-back-and-let-er-rip chorus . "The Weight", which features one of the catchiest riffs I've heard in a long time and a soaring chorus and outro; and "Wrong Way Out" with its harmonics intro and catchy chord progression and chorus. The other two songs "Dissonant Me" and "Flooding Up the Deep End" are also fantastic.

Do yourself a favour and support Junction 18 by buying this album. You will not be disapointed. I can't wait for the next full length!