Album Review: jj – jj n° 2 (2009)

Album Review: jj – jj n° 2 (2009)
Rating: 4 out of 5 Potholes

My Swedish kinfolk have a knack for making some of the most melodic, albeit weird, music ever. Sure, Irish and Scottish bands share that inherent ability, too, but there is something about the Swedes that makes their style so special. For an example, you can look to even some of the more popular acts like The Cardigans – yes, the group that sang the annoying/fun “Lovefool”. But a foray into the band’s catalog shows something deeper and richer; perhaps pop music with a soul. And once you get more into Sweden’s rich music scene, you will be rewarded with even better “pop” acts like Jens Lekman, Acid House Kings, The Radio Dept., and many, many others. Now, jj, a brand new group from Gothenburg, might not have the pop inflections of those bands. But they share those same unique qualities that make Scandinavian bands so irresistible.

jj’s sound is best described interesting blend of extreme temperatures. At times, the tracks feel frozen, like the rigid winter months of Sweden. You are almost compelled to shiver at the icy guitars and keyboards emanating from your speakers and/or headphones. But, conversely, there are moments when a pronounced warmth comes through the music. The vocals evoke breezy, sunny days spent laying in a park as the clouds drift above you. Perhaps it’s just the fact that everything on here is so perfectly layered. From a production standpoint, this album is nearly flawless. You would be hard-pressed to find better dreamlike atmospheres on anything else released recently.

And it’s for all of these reasons that jj is difficult to classify. Their music is equal parts dream-pop, folk, and indie-pop, all rolled into one lo-fi near-masterpiece. What makes them even more difficult to describe accurately is their sense of mystery. Good luck finding the names of who sings or writes the lyrics and music for these Swedes. So, female vocalist, whoever you are, congratulations on crafting some of the most distinctive and beautiful harmonies of 2009. From her haunting introduction on “Things Will Never Be the Same Again” to the absolutely gorgeous “My Love” to “Me & Dean”, a subtle means to the album’s conclusion, she takes control of your ear and never lets go. Another instantly musically-attractive song is the dense “My Hopes and Dreams”. It creeps forth with heavenly vocals that are flanked by folksy acoustic guitars, percussion, and, at one point, a guitar-line straight off The Cure’s Disintegration.

Lyrically, even some of their more abecedarian moments on jj n° 2 become intriguing through vocal harmonies and melodies, particularly on “Ecstasy”, a track as trippy as its subject matter. It also carries a somewhat comical hip-hop leaning thanks to the beat, which is filled with hi-hats, fingersnaps, handclaps, heady snares, and deep bassdrum hits. When you do focus more on the lyrics, though, you won’t be let down. “Are You Still In Vallda?” is a fantastic ode to a once-forgotten lover or friend who comes to mind when smelling the sweet summer air. Also intriguing is the leaving-town anthem “Masterplan”, a song anyone from a small town can instantly relate to.

There is little about this record that is truly lacking in the traditional sense. The only faults are that jj n° 2 is a bit too short at just over 26 minutes and not everyone will be so smitten with jj’s subtleties. But if it doesn’t hit you at once, give the album another spin. And another. And another, if needed. These Swedes will grow on you, whether you want them to or not. Don’t be surprised if you end up singing along to one of their perfect hooks or verses.