Customer Reviews

Jj72

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Drawing heavily from their peers, Nirvana and seemingly becoming a younger Manic Street Preachers, JJ72 hit the UK last year with the hit "October Swimmer", which is definitely one of the stand out tracks on this cd (along with "Algeria", "Snow", "Long Way South" and "Willow" - all contrasting and yet comparable styles). The cd seems to be a pop/grunge mix, with some distinctly classical influences, most notable with the violin soli at the end of "Oxygen". The band are currently working on album no. 2, which makes one wonder why the debut took so long to be released here. The cd is possibly as beautiful, and destructive to the mind as Coldplays " Parachutes", and lead singer Mark Greaney certainly has a strong enough voice to back up the thought-provoking lyrics. Give them a listen if your tastes include Grunge, Early Radiohead, or any kind of Britpop.

Mmmmmmmmm, mmmmmmmmmmmm good. I finally came across this album, and boy am I glad I did. Being a Strokes and Coldplay fan, I figured I'd like it, the similarities are there, but JJ72 has proven to be incredibly unique and breathtaking band. Here's the breakdown.

1- October Swimmer- Oh so good! It has some great lyrics, and a fabulous tune.

2- Undercover Angel- Very cute, sweet, etc. Nice chorus.

3- Oxygen- Emotionally moving, decadent instrumentals.

4- Willow- Enchanting and Haunting

5- Surrender- Passionate, great guitar parts.

6- Long Way South- Energetic and exciting! I can't stop singing- "Torrential high seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaas- dragged me to my knees.........." Awesome lyrics and vocals.

7- Snow- Great build up to the chorus.

8- Broken Down- Gentle and hummable

9- Improv- This has got to be my favourite one, but I don't know why.

10- Not Like You- reminds me of Undercover Angel a little.......

11- Algeria- So amazing, it really gets the adrenaline going for me!

12- Bumble Bee- a Perfect ending to the album, it does the quiet-loud thing.

Well, I hope that helps! *when in doubt, listen to clips*

I got to see them live at the gypsy tea room in Dallas, TX. It was an awesome show. After seeing them, I downloaded all of their mp3s, and I just can't get enough of their sound. Mark Greaney has a beautiful voice, and the music itself is godlike. Some refer to it as being anthem-sounding, which I feel does it duty. All of the songs are filled with passion, which, for me, is the most important thing. A great album!

I downloaded "Snow" on a whim and after the first listen I immediately left for the record store. The only other time I've ever felt that impelled to buy a record was upon my first listening of "Muscle Museum" by Muse. In fact, if there were any one band who I could point to as being rather similar to JJ72 it's Muse. Both 3-piece bands, both possessing lead singers with almost operatic range and emotion. Both bands are spellbinding, but JJ72 comes across as simpler and slightly less refined, which I think is to their benefit. So, go out and have a listen to any of their singles ("Snow" October Swimmer" "Oxygen"). If you aren't hooked after the first listen, this probably isn't the band for you.

First, those who think JJ72 is about Radiohead are out to lunch. I am a big Radiohead fan, but a falsetto, raging guitars, and strong dynamics do not warrant superficial Radiohead comparisons.

This is a flawed but pretty brilliant debut, especially considering that the band members are barely 20ish. Mark Greaney's voice is definitely ear-catching: some Geddy Lee, some Jon Anderson (of Yes), even some early Queen (think Queen 2)--but also unique. And very self-assured. In addition, his song writing skills are quite strong. Lyrically the album suffers from too much Joyce-ish obliqueness and not enough narrative. The second half of the CD lags a bit and has a "samey" feel to it.

But cuts like "Undercover Angel," "Oxygen", "Snow" and the beautiful "Willow" are marvels and point to potential greatness. I'm looking forward to the all-important sophomore effort.

A friend of mind sent me the song Oxygen, and I listened to it. I loved that song, it was good, it sounded great and everything.

But that was that. And I really never looked for them again.

So I'm running around my work, and I see this CD just...there.

I buy it simply because I felt like it.

Wow. The singer of the group sounds a bit odd, but the music is what truly shines. The way the songs are set up, they all have common elements. But I just have to say that it's a great way to set up your songs.

Usually they start out kinda soft and hokey, but then it's like the motion builds up, and they get rather loud. I love it! Sends shivers up and down my spine, everytime I hear a song form them come on in my CD player.

It kinda reminded me like the beetles, but not quite. I don't know why, it just popped into my head like "Oh, this sounds kinda vaguely like the beetles." But you know...I really can't compare them to anyone else really. They are very unique, and GOOD unique.

You won't be sad with this group.

these kids have emotion, what a lot of musicians lack these days..

all music guide gave this cd 4.5 stars out of 5 and wrote this:

"If you want to make a mistake, at least make it a big one. Things heated up for Ireland's much hyped "new hope," what with 2000's endless excitable press clippings, triumphant festival slots, and a full-length chance to prove to the world if their three-minute slices of searing guitar distress were worth any of the attention in the first place. Indeed, fortune has been strong with this young trio. The fact that JJ72 sound completely unfazed even when they screw it all up is what makes this roaringly ambitious debut so captivating.
It's an idea that has many a Suede and Joy Division name-checks sound apt, as proved by the likes of "Snow" or "Algeria," sweltering, emotive crackles of indie guitar thunder that succeed in being as innocent and powerful as any song influenced by the greats. Truly, the magnificence of JJ72 is that they're on top form even when they don't seem to know what they're doing. Mark Greaney's garrulous growls and falsettos soar over far too many syllables. The band's "soft/loud" Nirvana-isms are occasionally banal. Sometimes it's only the band's wide-eyed eagerness that saves everything. With a lyrical mash-up of abstract imagery ("Short sleeves and warm skin/losing coins calling next of kin") and glorious bursts of confessional euphoria - somewhere in between the Sex Pistols and the poems of John Keats - album peaks like "Oxygen" are extraordinary.

They show how choosing the right blunders can make all the difference in the world. Because for all its evident talent, this debut album is admittedly a student film, with all of its naivete, vigor, and self-indulgence. These mistakes are big. These mistakes are personal. Yet these same mistakes transform JJ72 into a band nothing short of inspiring, and just a touch away from being impossibly beautiful." - (...)

I don't find many cds that I listen to more than 1 song on, I listen to at least 6 songs on this cd all the time. I saw JJ72 with pete yorn in dallas and they rocked the house! Sure, in their live show Mark is sometimes out of tune and they have troubles with tempo sometimes, but I still think their music is great (and most of this is because they're so wild on stage). His use of imagery would make my high school english teacher cream her pants, his voice is very good (not perfect), but he's overall a very good singer, and I personally like the falsetto range to loud wailing as it brings you from one emotion to another....that's what this cd is about. It's packed with energy, love, and a whole bunch of bitter sweet. As you might tell, this is my favorite band now...so I'd definitely suggest the cd, and tell all your friends so JJ can blow out all of these horrid 1 hit pop wonders! Also, BE SURE to see their live show when they re-enter the US, I'd fly to across country if I knew they'd be here again!

Since Oasis and Radiohead have been big in the States from four or five years ago, most English bands that have come over are either small indie groups or homoerotic sensitive young men who idolize Tim Buckley. Whether they are huge or not in the UK, they all come over here as sort of an indie band seeking attention from Mainstream America. Most of them play clubs small enough to be disturbing. Usually down the road No Doubt or Dido is packing them in at the local stadium. Makes you ask "Is there a God?"

Most people know about Coldplay. Most would be hard pressed to have any knowledge of any UK bands in the past five years. Only Radiohead has hit number one in that time. Some people could think that UK bands are just romantic versions of American ones, but they would be entirely wrong. At the end of the day they would miss out on a lot, and be forced to follow some third-rate emo band. Ireland's JJ72 and Wales' The Stereophonics are probably the biggest acts from each country, since the heyday of Britpop (1994-1996).

These bands have little in common. JJ72 are more like an art rock/glam rock group who aspires to be Joy Division meets The Smashing Pumpkins. Whereas The Stereophonics are like the most working class band around with their jeans and t-shirts. Stereophonics are about realism. Many of their songs are about their experiences on the road, many of those in America. JJ72's main songwriter, Mark Greaney writes about his own personal life. All his dreams and imagination get wrapped up in metaphors and high volume. Where The Stereophonics want to rock you with tales of ordinary life, JJ72 wants to use feeling and sonic power to overwhelm you, every if it's not entirely understood.

The House of Blues was packed for this early show. The audience was mix of Britpoppers and regular joes with football jerseys. People were bumping into me in the front rows. When JJ72 comes on and does "Snow" the audience gets excited. I notice that Elijah Wood (actor from The Lord of The Rings) is standing right next to me. Apparently he is a big JJ72 fan and has seen them play a few times. He bumps into me a few times during the show with his entourage. JJ72 looks as they did when they play Craig Kilborn's show a few nights before. Mark's voice seems strained. On one song there is a technical breakdown and the slow down and stop.

When they play "Surrender" and "Algeria" they win back the audience by their sheer power. During a slow new number I go by a beer. The waitress tells me that Mark sounded like a girl. Many people have noticed that, The drummer Fergal was the first to point this out when he heard Mark sing in an early practice. Hasn't anyone heard of The Beach Boys? The falsetto voice has been around for some time now. Mark actually alternates between the falsetto and screaming on their best songs like "Oxygen" and also "October Swimmer." The power of the noise and feedback that JJ72 produces was both thrilling and impressive. The set was short and left us all wanting more.

How can this band not go far? They have got it all, even to the point of excellent string arrangements, and on a debut album no less. Mark Greeney is an incredible artist. Hilary Woods may have stolen my heart.

The production values could be significantly better; there are some instances where you could swear Phil Spector was at the sound board. Although, if this were a sonically stellar recording, I would not have survived my first listen.

My favorite band right now...it is nice to finish off a listen to Jj72 with some Placebo, btw.