Artist: jj
Album: jj n° 2
Year: 2009
Grade: 2 pretzels
Mystery has long been a key part to the appeal of bands. Pink Floyd, for example, surrounded themselves with so many effects and technical wizardry that the four actual people in the band we’re virtually unknown. Even modern artists, from MF DOOM to Burial, have experimented with hiding their identity. However, jj take this to a new extreme. All the information that can be gleaned from the internet about them is 1) they’re Swedish and 2) they’ve released an EP and now an album. That’s it. No band member names, no histories, no future plans or bootlegged concert videos on YouTube. Nada.
When musicians retreat this far into anonymity, I can only assume it’s because they want people to focus solely on the music and not the social trappings that we associate with virtually every musical act these days. That’s would fine and dandy if jj recorded better music, though. All they’ve given us to work with is an EP and this new, very short (twenty-six-plus minutes) album, which contain breezy, forgettable electro-pop. There’s a bit of African rhythm here and there, maybe a fleeting minor key riff thrown in the mix…but for the most part, all jj are offering to the world are flat, personality-less song sketches.
As I’ve admitted time and again, I do love me some dour, serious music. So, of course I’m biased against an album full of hopelessly sunny Scandinavian pop. However, songs like “My Love” and “My Hopes And Dreams” push the “blissed-out-sunshine” envelope way too far. With vocals delivered by a faceless, flat female voice, these stabs at upbeat pop feel fabricated beyond the point of belief. Now, of course most pop music will sound artificial and there are plenty of people out there who enjoy just that. These songs go too far though. They sound soulless, as if they were programmed by techno-robots. Knowing those tricky Scandinavian popsters, that’s actually a distinct possibility.
The cherry on the proverbial cake of annoyingness is the shameless “Ecstasy”, an ode to the songs title drug that wholeheartedly rips the incessant synth line from Lil’ Wayne’s “Lollipop”. Sure, we live in an age where artists are challenging what copyrights should mean through sampling and so forth. However, blatantly hijacking a proven pop hook for your own shallow celebration (“when I’m in the club, I’m always on the drug,” go the lyrics) of a stupid drug is just obnoxious. Plus, there’s that cover. C’mon now. Perhaps jj’s anonymity is a good thing. I don’t know who I should blame for this weak, lazy music.
When musicians retreat this far into anonymity, I can only assume it’s because they want people to focus solely on the music and not the social trappings that we associate with virtually every musical act these days. That’s would fine and dandy if jj recorded better music, though. All they’ve given us to work with is an EP and this new, very short (twenty-six-plus minutes) album, which contain breezy, forgettable electro-pop. There’s a bit of African rhythm here and there, maybe a fleeting minor key riff thrown in the mix…but for the most part, all jj are offering to the world are flat, personality-less song sketches.
As I’ve admitted time and again, I do love me some dour, serious music. So, of course I’m biased against an album full of hopelessly sunny Scandinavian pop. However, songs like “My Love” and “My Hopes And Dreams” push the “blissed-out-sunshine” envelope way too far. With vocals delivered by a faceless, flat female voice, these stabs at upbeat pop feel fabricated beyond the point of belief. Now, of course most pop music will sound artificial and there are plenty of people out there who enjoy just that. These songs go too far though. They sound soulless, as if they were programmed by techno-robots. Knowing those tricky Scandinavian popsters, that’s actually a distinct possibility.
The cherry on the proverbial cake of annoyingness is the shameless “Ecstasy”, an ode to the songs title drug that wholeheartedly rips the incessant synth line from Lil’ Wayne’s “Lollipop”. Sure, we live in an age where artists are challenging what copyrights should mean through sampling and so forth. However, blatantly hijacking a proven pop hook for your own shallow celebration (“when I’m in the club, I’m always on the drug,” go the lyrics) of a stupid drug is just obnoxious. Plus, there’s that cover. C’mon now. Perhaps jj’s anonymity is a good thing. I don’t know who I should blame for this weak, lazy music.
This is your worst review so far.
ReplyDeleteNot to be harsh--I'm going on the assumption that you're cool with some crit--but this particular review is much less informed and intelligent criticism than it is a whine about how this music doesn't fall into your tastes. Your assault on "Ectasy" is just a puritan admonishment of "shallow" themes... I mean, I don't agree with the subject matter of a good third of Yeats' poems, but that doesn't mean they're bad as poetry--some of those are some of the greatest poems ever written. And part of what makes "ecstasy" great is its blatant and unapologetic embracing of something that the songwriter likes. And in such a cultural climate (i.e. the reign of hipsterdom), that's a beautiful rallying cry against sour and ivory-toured criticisms like what you're writing.
If you care about being a critic worth reading by anybody but yourself, try reviewing music as if whether or not it's good for people (generally) and the world of music (which, admittidly, I think that this album is), than just yourself.
Much respect though; Your blog for the most part is great. I wouldn't have written the following if I didn't think you could take it and/or handily defend yourself.
-sam
ps take the new Cave Singers album for a spin?
ReplyDeleteHey Sam,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate both the feedback and the incredibly respectful response. Glad you've been reading!
Anyway...you're right, this review was a bit lazy on my part. Obviously, this album wasn't something that worked for me (on a personal level) but I had a hard time expressing that in a way beyond myself. I think you're correct in calling me on that.
That said, I don't call "Ecstasy" shallow just because it's about drugs. As stupid as I personally think drugs are, I'm a big enough fan of Primal Scream, My Bloody Valentine, etc to recognize that there's some great ecstasy-inspired music out there. My problem with this song is that there's no depth to that love. Combined with stealing the "Lollipop" synth, which I don't approve of, this song particularly annoys me. I can deal with sampling when it takes an element out of a song and builds upon it. But when you just hijack a hook verbatim...that feels like weak songwriting to me. Rhianna's "S.O.S" is another example...
I agree with your assessment of what makes a good critic. I like to think I operate within those lines as much as I can. However, every once and a while, we all need someone to point out when we're being stupid.
nicely put. your ever-viligent reader,
ReplyDelete-Sam