Junior Boys – Begone Dull Care (2009) [Domino] // Grade: A

And so the reinvention of Junior Boys continues onward. While the opening moments of Parallel Lines may evoke memories of Depeche Mode’s Black Celebration, Begone Dull Care is a step away from the frigid Synth-pop that dominated So This Is Goodbye into some warmth. These would-be saviors of Synth-Pop have expanded their scope & vision to include all of Pop by squeezing out and albums worth of 80′s AM friendly Electro-Funk/Soul from their synthesizers that would make Hall & Oates jealous.

While this sort of undertaking by a modern band can and will usually lead to some unfortunate results (See: Hot Chip), In this instance like Chromeo and Phoenix before them, the Junior Boys not only find a sense of comfort but excel at this sort of new romanticism.

While opening tracks “Parallel Lines” & “Work” at times recall the seductive cool of So This Is Goodbye, they’re simply a familiar appetizer & drink before you get to the meat of this album.  On “Bits & Pieces” Junior Boys channel the new wave funk of ABC, while “Sneak a Picture” sees them find their inner George Michael. The closing 6 tracks are an extended journey infusing New Romantic, New Wave & Electro-Funk/Soul into the sort of AOR Pop Juggernaut whose time and place has unfortunately come and gone. However on Begone Dull Care, with each play we can reminisce and let it live again.

- My Pal the Crook