Album Of The Week #72: "JJ72" by JJ72

insinkerator

Artist: JJ72
Album: JJ72
Label: Lakota Records
Tracks: 12
Length: 48:51
Release Date: 28th August 2000

Xavi6

Right I'm gonna say it straight from the off - this is in my opinion the best Irish album of the 2000s.

I remember first hearing October Swimmer on the Late Late and hating it due to Greaney's voice, but are much persistence from a mate I bought the album and never looked back. If I was to rate each song -

October Swimmer 10
Undercover Angel 10
Oxygen 10
Willow 8
Surrender 10
Long Way South 10
Snow 10
Broken Down 9
Improv 10
Not Like You 8
Algeria 10
Bumblebee 10


It still get massive airplay on my iPod nearly 9 years after it came out. It's a simply stunning debut and right up there with my favourite records of all time.

I also love the follow up 'I To Sky' as well btw. A criminally underrated album.

pierrot

Not to mention a tasty looking young lady on bass if my memory serves me correctly.

RodVelvet

Indeed Hilary Woods was the tasty looking young woman on bass.

A gem of a debut album, it would rank up there with the debuts from The Strokes and King of Leon. It's a shame 'I to Sky' didn't get the recognition it deserved. The label seemed to lose faith with the band as a whole.

To think that there is an unheard third album of JJ72 tunes out there that we will never hear. I remember in there early days they were lauded by the Manics as a really new exciting band. I love the way their raw guitar sound is married with strings on alot of the standout tracks. I remember them being on the Late Late with Greaney seemingly taking the piss ala Nirvana by singing out of time and finishing by throwing the guitar on the ground and upsetting Plank. Think it's still on youtube somewhere.

I had envisaged them becoming an irish 'muse' with Greaney in the Matt Bellamy role. Hopefully 'Concerto for Constantine' might deliver on some of Greaney's unfulfilled talent. It really is one of those rare albums that you can listen from start to finish without there being a single weak track in the interim. To finish I implore you to dust off your old copy of 'JJ72' and enjoy the aural excellence all over again.

SwirlsAllAround

There was a lot of potential there alright....I remember seeing them supporting the Manics in Smithfield, I think the highlight of the night for me was actually their performance of Snow...and I to Sky is a great album too.

Pighead

Absolutely cracking album. Think I seen them play about 4 or 5 times when they were touring this album (including when they supported Muse which turned out to be a Greaney acoustic show due to heavy storms grounding their gear in London). Was absolutely obsessed with it for months after it first came out. Think there was a bit of hatred towads them because Greaney was a it of a posho and many thought he was a bit of a spanner. But fcuk that, it's all about the tunes and what tunes they had!

The acoustic version of snow was on one of the singles (Long Way South I think) and I used to sicken my housemates with the amount of times I played it. Improv is one of the simplest yet effective tunes I've ever heard. The bit where he starts screaming at the end gets me every time. Everybody should own this album. And as the lads said above I to Sky was criminally underrated.

Xavi6

Pighead wrote: »

(including when they supported Muse which turned out to be a Greaney acoustic show due to heavy storms grounding their gear in London).

You were at that gig? Lucky bastard.

I read a review of it in Melody Maker magazine at the time and was so jealous of anyone who was there that night. I'd say it was unreal considering the two bands and the JJ72's acoustic set.

Pighead

Xavi6 wrote: »

You were at that gig? Lucky bastard.

I read a review of it in Melody Maker magazine at the time and was so jealous of anyone who was there that night. I'd say it was unreal considering the two bands and the JJ72's acoustic set.

It was absolute gig heaven as they were my favourite two bands at the time. Was a bit of a sickener that the JJ's couldn't play a proper gig, acoustic gig was enjoyable but when compared to the show Muse put on it was a no contest really. I will never forget Muse strutting on stage and opening up with an absolute belting full throttle Uno.

Xavi6

On a side note, one of my favourite JJ72 songs was a B side in and around the time of the album. It's called 'Desertion' and is seen here played before 'Improv' -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sL1WaGkX5g

Amazing chorus.

Pighead

Xavi6 wrote: »

On a side note, one of my favourite JJ72 songs was a B side in and around the time of the album. It's called 'Desertion' and is seen here played before 'Improv' -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sL1WaGkX5g

Amazing chorus.

Ha ha, you absolute legend! I'd forgotten all about that song! I adored that song back in the day. At work now but I'm going to listen to that song a hundred times when I get home! Cheers.

Xavi6

Lol it's a tune of epic proportions really, and I wonder how many people actually know it. Pieced of piss to play on guitar as well.


Also found the previously mentioned performance of 'October Swimmer' on the Late Late. For some reason I don't think Plank liked them!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFJOpM5-AaI

jossnjuice

SwirlsAllAround wrote: »

There was a lot of potential there alright....I remember seeing them supporting the Manics in Smithfield, I think the highlight of the night for me was actually their performance of Snow!

ABSLOLUTELY EPIC CONCERT! although cobbles and moshing didnt mix........danger!!

HouseHippo

Saw Concerto For Constantine the other night,singer from JJ72 is in them would I be right?

Aridstarling

I saw Concerto (too young for JJ72, even if I did love them) play to about 20 people in the Ambassador back in October. They were great. Absolute pros, they didn't care how many people were there, they just played a ****ing loud set of great songs, strutted a lot and left.

HouseHippo

Aridstarling wrote: »

I saw Concerto (too young for JJ72, even if I did love them) play to about 20 people in the Ambassador back in October. They were great. Absolute pros, they didn't care how many people were there, they just played a ****ing loud set of great songs, strutted a lot and left.

Yeah they were down in radio City last week, was amazing about 250 people there.