Published on Oct 10, 2003
Scanning channels with my remote several weeks ago, I paused on
MTV 2. An outrageous video appeared on my screen. Animation that
brilliantly recalled the graphics on my long-replaced Commodore 64
was constructed in a magnetic and farcical fashion. It completely
captivated me. The music was upbeat and accompanied the images
flawlessly. Wanting more, I plugged into their Web site.
Junior Senior is a two-member band that hails from Denmark. To
describe the functions of each member, think Hall and Oates with
Oates being boastfully gay. Junior (the heterosexual one) is the
focal singer, bassist, guitarist and co-producer. Senior promotes a
‘Queer Eye for the Straight Guy’ brand of muse; he performs
handclaps (yes, handclaps) and a droll yet weak Fred Schneider
(B-52s lead singer) imitation.
A manic collage of genres and sounds are featured at a breakneck
pace. Energy is infused into every single track; cheeky proto-punk,
dance pop, r&b, rock and other genres are cut, pasted and
sampled. “Move Your Feet” somewhat misrepresents
D-d-don’t Don’t Stop The Beat because the vocals were
performed by a guest (Thomas Troelsen). Junior cannot carry a tune,
so wisely, he decided to spew the words using a Detroit
garage-styled approach. It provides a unique but discordant sound
that actually removes some of the gleam produced by the Dust
Brothers-inspired sampling.
Although the samples constantly transform, the structure is
monotonous and
D-d-don’t Don’t Stop The Beat catches an infection that
prevents repeated listens due to melody deficiency. Total deflation
came when I actually listened to the words. One random example
(just pick any) is evidenced in the 1st verse and chorus of “Chicks
and Dicks”…
“Senior: Boy b-boy boys, I’m handsome and tall, Junior: Girl
g-girl girls, I’m nasty and small, Senior: But I’m a man man I
don’t need no chick, Junior: I’m a man man I don’t need no dick
Chorus Junior: What you gonna do do after dark? Say, Senior: What
you gonna do do after dark? Junior: Who you gonna do do after dark?
Say, Senior: Who you gonna do do after dark? Junior: Gimme girls
girls girls, Senior: Gimme boy boy-oy-oys, Junior: Yeah, whoo!
Gimme girls girls girls, Senior: Gimme boy boy-oy-oys, Junior:
Yeah, whoo!”
Well, do you get it…? One is straight and the other is gay!
Phew (or whoo, rather), that was extreme lyrical and stylistic
randomness. Junior Senior actually make Andrew W.K. sound literate
by comparison.
Much like a desperate one-night fling,
D-d-don’t Don’t Stop The Beat is attractive under a disco
ball and in a club setting. However, underneath it all, it’s
soulless and not worthy of a second call. Junior Senior are two
wild and crazy guys; intelligent and skillful, they’re not.