Disco de Junior Boys: “Last Exit”

For those who are unsure about this CD, the closest that I can come to describing it would be if you took Depeche Mode when they were recording Violator and then gave them large doses of Valium. It is definitely not a CD to play when you fighting to get your energy up. This CD will be perfect for me when it is minus 30 at night and I am wearing headphones out walking the dog and the snow is gently falling all around me. It will be warming me up inside out. Really...what I am trying to get at is this is definitely a moody CD. If you are looking to be put into a certain relaxed state of mind, then this is for you. If you are already in that state of mind and want to enhance it, then this is for you.

It is a more mature, more ambient Postal Service (who I like very much.)

I highly recommend Last Exit. Is it the best CD this year?.....ummm no. Is it close? Yes. If you go to amazon.ca, you can listen to the snippets and decide for yourself. I am extremely pleased I took the chance. Standout tracks are BELLONA, LAST EXIT, BIRTHDAY, UNDER THE SUN, TEACH ME HOW TO FIGHT and the entire bonus CD.

Junior Boys' 2004 opus is a well-crafted electronic ride which takes you from dreamy vocals to trip-hop beats to soothing, chill-out melodies. It is one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the year, and deservedly so. The soundscape is a lush masterpience of 10 extended tracks. Most of the cuts are quite mellow, but yet they still retain their own unique energy. My favorite is the title track. There's a particular sweetness to its sound, and the melody is exquisite. If you like wispy electronic music with some twists & turns and, most importantly, some depth and texture to the music, then look no further than 'Last Exit.'

Excellent album - the use electronica style sounds and complex syncopated beats never detracts or sounds forced. The songs are often quite sparse and never over-produced with a lovely sprinkling of more conventional instruments here and there adds a warmer feeling when occasionally the album begins to sound a little cold. Last Exit is also a very tight album with no skippable moments (except Neon Rider maybe)and many excellent songs (including: more than real, high come down, birthday, three words and when i'm not around).

The music somehow holds a level of suspense and intrigue like it won't reveal everything. Quite innovative rhythms matched to affecting lyrics and great tunes and a gorgeous atmosphere makes me go all squiffy sometimes. One of those rare albums you feel like you inhabit - completely enveloped by it.

I have listened to this album a lot and it is still probably my favourite album of the last 2 years or so. Superb.

Decadently satisfying, glitchy dance pop that appeases much with the retro production and emotive vocals. This could have been a joke in less skilled hands, but this impressive debut from Junior Boys does deserve the praise it has received. While only appropriate in it's pseudosexy weirdo context, the album does remain a tightly constructed piece of emotional electropop, perhaps setting the standard that this emotric genre all you Postal Service guys were harking on. Although a few songs fall flat on the second half, almost every other track should, regardless of it's context, create an affectionate partnership with that won't soon be forgotten.

First heard Junior Boys on my Radiohead station on Pandora and everytime a song came up by these guys I loved it. Finally caved in and got their whole discography. Great stuff.