jj
jj nº 3
Secretly Canadian
With their latest release, jj no 3, jj proves that their sound is as unique and mysterious as the band itself. It comes as no surprise that the Swedish duo has once again incorporated Americanized pop into the music, much like the track “Ecstasy,” off of 2009’s jj no.2 . This time, rather than a Lil’ Wayne tribute, jj gives a nod to ATC’s popular ’90s hit, “Around The World,” in the new album’s intro song, “My Life.” This intriguing track, just shy of two minutes long, evokes emotion with the unexpected lyrical question, “What the hell am I doing right?”
One might be able to answer that more readily if we knew much of anything about jj themselves. Late last year, they signed to American label Secretly Canadian. Previously they had released a single and debut album through the Sweden-based indie imprint Sincerely Yours (founded by Swedish pop group The Tough Alliance). Other than that, both labels have kept names out of it and leave us to draw conclusions about jj based solely on the music itself.
Consistently soothing vocals are woven throughout the album, but are especially so in the album’s third track, “Let Go.” A cosmic intro and effervescent feel make the theme of a heroine-overdose sound attractive, with lyrics claiming, “I’ll never be alone, I’ll always have a friend.”
The songs seem to come in pairs, with “Into the Light” and “Light” picking up the pace a bit from introductory tracks. In these songs, you need to employ a keen ear to notice the conversation between the synthesizer, acoustic guitar, and a playful whistle, which interchange effortlessly. With such couplings, one wonders if there is a point attempting to be made here. Unfortunately the tracks are so different from each other, both in sound and content, that drawing any conclusions about this is as much a feat as garnering biographical information on the band itself.
“Voi Parlate, lo Gioco” translates from Italian to English to mean, “You speak, the Game.” The track, which starts off with a strong beat, is an attempted love song of sorts, with sappy lyrics that sound as if they came straight out of an angsty teenage diary. The track’s inclusion in this album is unclear; it feels as if they have underestimated their audience, as if we wouldn’t be listening closely enough.
“Golden Virginia,” is layer-rich and has great remix potential. “You Know” is the second to last track on the CD version of the album, but those who purchase the 12” vinyl will be treated to a bonus track, a sister song entitled “I Know.”
The tender finale,“No Escapin’ This,” speaks of a life sentence in the sweetest of ways, complete with angelic vocals. However, this ending is a subtle reminder of the highs in the first and strongest track that were never again reached.
Not knowing much of the band or their history, the listener must let the music speak for itself, and is left with two successful songs bookending a confusing group of underdeveloped tracks. In “No Escapin’ This,” lyrics claim, “My biggest mistake was someone else’s.” Be wary, if you can’t take the blame, you can’t take the fame, jj.
