More than just a pretty bass? (JJ72 - JJ72)

Member Name: DrunkenDuncan

Product:	JJ72 - JJ72
Date:	25/10/01 (36 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It could have lasted 74 minutes and Hilary IS gorgeous.

Disadvantages: The vocals, the lyrics, the repetitive nature of the songs, the hype

Always get worried when liking a band with a prominent female member. Do I like the group because I fancy the girl or do I fancy the girl because I like the group? Having seen JJ72 both live and on TV I had major concerns over this issue, bassist Hilary Woods positively smoulders. So it was with some trepidation that I bought and listened to this eponymous debut. Fortunately the problem never arose. Yes, Hilary Woods is gorgeous. No, the music however is not. Conscience sorted I could get on with the business of reviewing.

To start with- Mark Greaney- you’re not really trying to convince me that’s your real voice are you? This guy plays up to his “sound like a girl” falsetto so much it’s frightening. Someone buy him some lockets. You get the impression he truly believes he sounds both sensitive and impassioned. He doesn’t- he’s more like an indie Chris de Bergh. One song performed in this fashion is acceptable if the song requires it. An album full is simply irritating and taking the piss.

Then there are the tunes.

“October Swimmer” starts quietly then bursts into life with massive guitars and Mark using the entire range of his vocal talents (high pitched to very high pitched) to full effect.

“Undercover Angel” starts quietly then bursts into life with massive guitars and Mark... (Hang on. Have we been here before? A pattern seems to be emerging. Still...)

“Oxygen” starts quietly then bursts into life... (Damn! Is my CD player stuck on repeat?)

“Willow” starts quietly then............ actually in a fit of non-conformity stays that way. This doesn’t make it a good song but at least it relieves the monotony and it also confirms my CD’s in proper working order. Same old vocals though.

“Surrender” Oh well back to normality. You know the score- starts quietly... blah blah blah... massive gu
itars ...blah blah blah.

Basically this hugely exciting and eclectic album (!!!) continues in exactly the same way for the next seven painfully awful/awfully painful songs.

“But what of the lyrics?” I hear you cry. Many a great career has been built on beautiful, cutting or insightful writings. Well, let’s take a listen....

Broken Down-
“Pasta machine broke down by the weed in the field”- so it’s a take-away again then?

Snow-
“Whyyyyyyyyyyy won’t it snowwhoah?”- Because it’s the middle of Summer and we’re not in Alaska you muppet.

And the awesome Algeria-
“Spring it dies. Summer arrives. Summer dies. Autumn arrives. Autumn dies. Winter arrives” - Michael Fish is exploring new career options as we speak.

Expect the next album to feature lyrical gems along the lines of “Dogger. West or Southwest veering Northwest 4 or 5. Rain then showers. Moderate becoming good.”

Was just beginning to feel ever so slightly guilty about this but one more listen convinces me I'm being too kind. Anyone that craves stardom this much should go on Big Brother. This is very bad Manics (and that’s not an easy task seeing how said group have already cornered the market in that department).

Many a “next big thing” have vanished without trace after one release- so here’s hoping. One minor point in their defence is that they are very young so things might improve.

However for the moment I would advise you leave well alone. Pictures of Hilary are freely available on the web so it’s not even worth buying for the inlay- just learn to surf left handed instead. It's cheaper and much more fun.

Summary: