Customer Reviews

So This Is Goodbye

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Junior Boys have made a solid second album in "So This is Goodbye"... which hopefully isn't a bad omen. Because it would be a shame to quit when this electro-indie band is still making good music -- smooth dance beats and satiny vocals, with a heavy dose of chillout and downtempo.

It opens with a string of hiccupy blips, and soon a breathless voice murmurs, "You're two faced.../all sideways.../you're dry-eyed.../and night fly..." A funky rhythm kicks in, keeping the spare beats from sounding too dull, but it's still only an introduction.

The good stuff is with "The Equalizer," a solid beat that regularly softens those cold beats with stretches of shimmering downtempo. Then they change the same formula for "First Time," which is a pretty trip-hop sound that gets sprinkled with sharp computerized beats. Not catchy, just so you know.

That mix of sharp beats and downtempo continues as the album trips on. The melodies are fragile, the beats are robust -- they glide through the vaguely ominous "In the Morning," cascade through the bittersweet sound of "So This is Goodbye," and jerk through the robotic "Caught in a Wave." The ending song, "FM," is a surprisingly soft finale, with a very soft melody and those computer beats.

Perhaps "So This is Goodbye" has only one real flaw: the songs tend to blur together over the listening period, since the beat/chillout ratio is the same for most of them. So it might take a few listens before this one really pops in your head.

But that ratio is very good -- the chillout electronica lulls you, and the cold robot beats snap you out of the trance. And while the first song strives to be catchy, the later ones abandon that in favor of experimental sound and chilly soundscapes, flavoured with the occasional burst of static.

Jeremy Greenspan's voice is the opposite of full-bodied. He sounds drained, worn-out, as if he's wandering around in his own wintry music. This impression certainly isn't hurt by lyrics like, "stay awhile/we don't have long/we could talk for hours/till my strength is gone/though I get so tired/I still get wired/my pulse is still... I'm like a child."

A delicious mishmash of hard electronica and soft downtempo, this chilly little album is a solid second album for the Junior Boys. Not to mention a bad way to go into winter.

Wow seeing that trailer(snowboard flick) and hearing Junior Boys just about made everybody wonder who are they and where can we get it!

Junior Boys, the whole CD is really nice, like the 80's sound, but differnet. It's got an uncanny way of weaving in throughts about love and friendship. I really like it!

Junior Boys newest release succeeded in being one of my favorite chill out albums of the year previously (based on a friends recommendation, i soon had to agree). While opinions very the reasoning is simple.
Catchy electronic beats, great smooth vocals that sound fatigued (not in a bad manor) and a few note worthy songs.

"In the Morning" was released as a music video/single, it is indeed the most commercially appealing fluctuate song off the albums on tray, but some still hold their footing. Many songs may not be as distinctive as this though and may sound a lot alike. Don't be fooled though, take a few listens. Another great song is "So this is Goodbye" a smoother flowing slower tempo song, resulting in a regretful approach. "Like a Child" is the exact opposite, giving way to tight faster paced notes causing the ears to respond in a awkward manor. The songs are fashionable and party like, but also relaxing and well produced.

The albums tone and nature truly makes for a soothing friendly listening experience. If your friends are into this style of music it'll be a superb album for your clique. If you enjoy Junior Boys try out Royksopp they are a little bit more experimental if you're willing to broaden your horizons.

Although there were some bland spots in this album, it was good. It shows a great growth from their last album as they have warmed up a little more from their last. Their synth sound still remains cold but it is the perfect chill that gives the songs a great atmosphere.

I also must say 'In The Morning' is one of the 50 best songs ever its amazing.

The album is a solid mix of the electronic format blended with a voice that you can't help but pay attention to. I did find the tail end of the album tends to drag with a slower paced mood.

After listening to Last Exit i was ultra excited to find out So This is Goodbye in store, this album is in certain ways different than the first, it has some tracks with more beat/uptempo than the last album, however Last exit has some sort of sweet,calm and in some ways depressing sounds that make the first one truly unique, this second album has a bit of that however with more noise which is the thing i am giving this 4 stars due to that, the track that messes in my opinion the whole album is "In the Morning" kind of repetitive sound and well if anyone of you people are into Remixes you should have heard The remix of this song made by Alex Smoke which rocks with minimalistic style better than the original in this album.
As for that the rest of the tracks are sweet and some others calm, some others well... in the middle of those haha.
Its worth the buy that it does.
Its a good evolution of this electro/pop/minimal style whatever you want to call it, and i hope to see a new album from this canadian group soon enough.

Regards!

My favorite album this year. Highly addictive, modern beats and sexy vocals. First Time, Count Souvenirs and So This Is Goodbye are my favorites. I highly recommend JB's previous album 'Last Exit'. Teach Me How To Fight is a brilliant track.

Kudos, boys.

I find my self oscillating on my emotions of this album. I'm a HUGE synth fan and appreciate excellent programmers. I thought I didn't like the vocals, then I did, then didn't...but in the end...it fits the album. It's a very good album for someone with my tastes in analog and vintage sounds. I found myself, upon first and second listen, excited about what instrument/sound they would choose to layer. I would recommend this album to synthesis and electronic music appreciaters. If you're looking for heavier, harsher, brash style rock...you should look elsewhere.

This album leans a little to the ambient/house techno side but not so much as to scare off fans of indie or rock music. In fact the song "Count Souvenirs" the music (not the vocals) sounds like an Interpol song. Overall a good album (3.7 stars) with good lyrics and an overall slightly creepy (but in a good way) groove to it. The beginning and end songs are not much of a good hello or 'goodbye' for the album but songs 4-7 help make this album definitely worth listening to. Time for Senior year.

great album, wonderful melodies, but at times it dips into late 90s chill out compilation territory, which is where a smidge of blandness comes into play, but ultimately I'm willing to overlook that and give it four stars.