Search - Junior Varsity :: Wide Eyed

JV's Wide Eyed & Excellent CD

Mark F. Braun | Norridge, IL | 07/22/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The JV seems determined to prove their control over inventive chops and excellent synth melodic passages that is 100% listenable. My fav track is Saltwater Fountain; with a great synth back melody and swirly sorts of lyrics, the band proves themselves well beyond their years with a well-produced, fresh CD.



JV's sound is as much jazz-fusion as it is alternative rock. A Dave Brubeck fan can find as much to like here as Emo fans or Mania TV addicts and baby, that's impressive.



By the way, for the price of a single CD, the album is packaged with a DVD of other bands on the Victory label's videos (Taking Back Sunday, Silverstein, etc.): a really good deal."

Awesome Major Label Debut

Charlie Davis | Peoria, IL | 07/13/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I didn't know if JV would be able to top The Great Compromise (released on British Records) but they have done so with an awesome album. The whole thing is great from start to finish. The album is focused without being contained. There was never a point listening to it that I thought I had already heard a song. The songs all vary in sound while mainly staying in the same musical direction.

Its hard to give these guys a specific genre. Most people will immediatly lump them in with the emo genre but I think thats being a little bit close minded. While the overall sound is somewhat emoish, the band does many things to seperate itself from other bands of the genre. One being creative lyric writing. Asa Dawson has got to be one of the most creative energetic vocalists and it comes across in his lyrics. He really thinks outside the box. Plus his voice isn't nasal sounding like other singers.

Another plus is the actual music. Andy and Sergio are an awesome guitar pair and actually play things outside roots and fifths. In fact, they hardly ever resort to just power chords. The rythem section is great with Chris doing some great drums, Asa keeping the bottom end full with bass, and Nick doing some great stuff on synth.

Overall this is a great album, not just for emo and punk fans but for almost any music fans. This is one of those rare albums that almost transcends genres. Even metalheads might enjoy the technical guitar playing. Fans of Keane and Coldplay will enjoy its atmospheric sounds and relaxed feel. And of course the Punk and Emo kids (probably the main audience) will love the energy the band puts into their songs.

A must buy for any music fan. Also check out The Great Compromise."

A bit different than your average emo/rock band....

D. White | 09/09/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I saw these guys live back in April when they came up to my university to play a show. They were a great live band with lots of energy, a good singer and a cast of members that knew how to play their respective instruments well. After a 3 month wait their CD finally hit the shelves and I picked it up right away and wasn't disappointed one bit by what I heard. I noticed a few things that I didn't really have the chance to notice the first time I saw them live. These guys are excellent songwriters and the maturity really shows in every song on this album. The album starts off with a bang, showcasing 3 faster paced and well written songs that will pull you in right from the start. The middle of the album slows down a bit and I'll admit that it took a few listens of the entire album before I really got to liking the songs in the middle (tracks 4-9) and appreciated them. "What It Meant to be Clean" heads back to the same faster and catchier formula of the first three tracks while "Saltwater Fountain" is a masterpiece that ends the album well. If you pick this album up I can guarantee you will not be disappointed. There's something on here for everyone, be it emo fans to classic rock fans (you can kinda hear the Rush influences on the bridge of "Everyone's Got Something They're Running Out of". So if you're looking for something that breaks the mold of most alternative rock music out there today, pick up "Wide Eyed" and enjoy."