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JJ72 Always and Forever
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by Alice Dream
  • Type: Single
  • Release date: 20/01/2003
  • Label: Lakota
JJ72 are a strange mixture of rock and pop in equal measures. They are an old-skool guitar act, not rough enough to be Ash, and not weird enough for Placebo.

This song provides a well meaning epic slice of U2 and Hothouse Flowers style Irish lilting.
The familiar boy?/girl? vocal is focused enough to energise most of their output, but on this track, Mark's voice seems to take on an unfortunate MOR inflection.

That said, the melody is beautiful, and the chorus, (for the most part traditionally voiced in the trademark falsetto that distinguishes them from the herd) is flawless.

I cannot help feel that they are also leaving behind the androgynous and sexy stylings of 'Oxygen' and 'October Swimmer' for the more tried-and-tested waters of an American FM friendly direction. Once again, the curse of recent John Leckie production (Mansun) strikes a band that need to straddle the underground to survive past the initial furore.

Not a bad single, but not their finest hour either.

  • JJ72 7 / 10
Words: Alice Dream

JJ72 - Always and Forever

yeah, havent heard it yet, but have no idea why they felt the need to re-record this song for more radio-friendliness - the Flood/Moulder album version is just dandy in my opinion...




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