May 11th, 2009 | Hamilton
Canada is known for many things, but electro-pop isn't often at the top of the list. Junior Boys have changed that, however, drawing worldwide attention with new album Begone Dull Care's soothing vocals and beautiful synth melodies. And if that title seems a bit unappealing, it's time to rethink yet again: the album name is a tribute to award-winning filmmaker Norman McLaren's animated 1949 film of the same name.
Three albums into their musical career, Jeremy Greenspan and Matt Didemus have slowed down the tempo considerably. Previous outings have had both speed and good song writing, but Begone Dull Care focuses on the latter—which is not to say there aren't any infectious melodies and catchy choruses kicking around. Opener "Parallel Lines" and "Bits & Pieces" offer the possibility of appreciative head-banging—though perhaps in slow motion—while first single "Hazel" will make you sit up and listen.
Though the tracks draw more than a few pages from the tradition of American R&B, Junior Boys' no-less-than-six-minute reinterpretations mark the obvious distinction. The duo was arguably stronger when adding pop elements to its material, such as on "In the Morning," from 2006's So This Is Goodbye, but we're more than eager to forgive them this soul-strutting foray. They are "juniors" after all—there's still plenty of time to grow up.
Begone Dull Care is out now, more info at www.myspace.com/juniorboys.
—David Hellqvist
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