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Review |
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“Problem.Reaction. Solution” is the
debut album from Brighton eight piece The Junk.
Showing their DIY ethics and love of the Skacore
scene the album recorded byCapdown producer Dave
Chang proves that Ska is long from gone.
As you might expect from the title and their influences
this is a record unafraid of tackling the political
issues of our day and song three ‘Nick Griffin
is a Cunt’ is straight in there. The lyrics
are similarly in your face with a typical line sounding
like a manifesto for future generations “wake
up smell that shit you’re shovelling these
days.” While near enough every lyric spat
out of lead singer Jake’s mouth is a statement
that fans will be able to scream back red faced
and full of heart and parents will despise as their
children turn to anarchy the real triumph of The
Junk is musically.
All 14 songs on this album are classic Ska anthems
bursting with potential, apart from opening track
‘I.V.B.K’ which is a little too close
to a certain Papa Roach smash-hit for comfort. The
bands timing is impeccable knowing exactly when
to blow and trumpet and when to strum a guitar that
will make it impossible for you not to start pogoing
like it’s the early 90’s. Their structure
of a simple skanky Ska beat mixed with downtunedhardcore
guitars and raw unproduced vocals provides you with
three minute bursts of utterly infectious energy.
The skill of renowned producer Dave Chang allows
the live atmosphere that is so associated with the
scene to seep through onto record giving the album
an injection of charisma, however being the go to
go for the genre Chang has also produced an album
with a particular sound that is perhaps now too
familiar to be unique. Chunks of this record are
generic Ska, but when they experiment with what
a Ska track can do we see something more. The Junk
have these extra qualities infusing their music
with other genres; on ‘Left For Dead’
and ‘Eyes Wide Open’ the trumpets and
sax are clearly inspired by Jazz and ‘Floor’
is a classy 30 second piano interlude that should
probably feel out of place, but doesn’t. ‘Sleepy
Panda Wobble Time’ is a sharp punchy song
with a memorable chorus and snappy brass section
that will make you envious of somebody’s lungs.
It might be a more underground movement these days,
but it’s bubbling up once more and if you’re
a fan of traditional Ska then check out The Junk
and hear what just might be the future of the genre.
4/5
Review by Lauren Mullineaux |
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| Band
Members |
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| Track
Listing |
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1. I.V.B.K.
2. Eyes Wide Open
3. Nick Griffin is a Cnut
4. Floor
5. Left For Dead
6. D.T.S.F.C.
7. Rise and Shine
8. Sally
9. Sleepy Panda Wobble Time
10. Politics with Nightsticks Pt. 1
11. Politics with Nightsticks Pt. 2
12. Devil in a Sunday Suit
13. Scream Your Dreams
14. No Regrets |
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| Band
Related Links |
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| Review
Score Code |
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- Top Cheese
- Brilliant
- Pretty damn good
- Ok I guess
-
What Was That? |
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