CD/DVD
JOY DIVISION
Closer (1990/ WARNER)
POST-PUNK. In retrospect, the second and final album by this Manchester postpunk band seems to point straight at singer Ian Curtis's suicide, which happened a few months before it was released. The band's reverberating mesh of minor-key lines and Curtis's tremorous bass voice are doomy enough on their own, and attention to the words reveals references to blacker-than-black stories by J.G. Ballard and Joseph Conrad; the void and its terrors were splitting Curtis apart from the inside. "I put my trust in you," he sings, and his voice leaves no doubt that that trust has been betrayed. But the music, grim and powerful as it is, points to the direction the surviving members took as NEW ORDER, incorporating the mechanical gravity of club rhythms.
JOYCE MANOR
of all things i will soon grow tired (2012/ASIAN MAN)
EMO/POST-PUNK. JOYCE MANOR's 1st album for Asian Man finds the band continuing to grow while they churn out melodic, upbeat indie/punk played along the same lines as bands like JAWBREAKER and DILLINGER FOUR. Vinyl version includes a digital download card.
JOYCE MANOR
s/t (2012/6131)
POST/EMO-PUNK. Long Beach's JOYCE MANOR present their debut full-length recording which follows up their split 7" with SUMMER VACATION. This self-titled effort contains 10 tracks of melodic and heartfelt punk-rock that takes from bands like JAWBREAKER, DESCENDENTS and early AGAINST ME. Vinyl includes a digital download card.
JR EWING
Ride paranoia (2003/GSL)
13 neue Songs von den Jungs aus Norwegen. Rockender Post Hardcore, der wie eine Mischung aus Swing Kids, Refused und Dillinger Escape Plan klingt.
JUCIFER
If thine enemy hunger (2006/RELAPSE)
INDIE/POST-ROCK. The infamous JUCIFER has returned with its long-awaited new full-length If Thine Enemy Hunger. ...Hunger, the Athens, GA power -duo's first proper album in almost four years, serves up an unforgettable collection of the melodic, bombastic rock that is their calling card. The dreamy, seductive vocals of the gorgeous Amber Valentine melt into monolithic walls of guitar and pounding drums (courtesy of wildman Edgar Livengood) to form the most infectious heavy rock you will ever hear. With a sound as big as the hooks it's 15 tracks carry, If Thine Enemy Hunger is a total eargasm and vibrant return to form by one of the US's most unique rock bands.
JUCIFER
L'autrichienne (2008/ALTERNATIVE TENTACLES/RELAPSE)
INDIE/POST-ROCK. "L'autrichienne", the follow-up to the critically acclaimed debut "If thine enemy hunger", is the most ambitious JUCIFER record to date. Amber Valentine's distinctive voice varies from harsh, banshee screams to softly moaned intonations against a raw palette that varies in terms of tempo and volume but never wavers in emotive intensity. JUCIFER reinvents metallic shoegazing on "L'autrichienne". You'll feel your bones crunching under chords of sickening despair, and the most melodic moments will have you tearfully soaring with hope and glimmering beauty.
JUDAS FACTOR, THE
ballads in blue china (1999/REVELATION)
POST-HARDCORE. This album starts off with brutal riffs and raw edge vocals. Then mid-way through, it goes to soft indy rockish music and vocal stylings. Then back to the hard stuff, yet this whole full-length has a different tone and sound than chugga chugga of other folk's hardcore. THE JUDAS FACTOR is a band you'll want to hear, with lyrics you need to read. You might find a personal anthem here.
JUDAS FACTOR, THE
kiss suicide (2000/REVELATION)
POST-HARDCORE. Another solid slam of intensely emotional and intricately played dissonant punk rock jams from these ever-evolving former members of 108 and RESURRECTION. 6 dynamic and blazing tracks with added electronic beats and subtle samples to tide you over until their next full length.
JUDGE
what it meant: the complete discography (2012/REVELATION)
SXE-HARDCORE. To most fans of hardcore, JUDGE is a band that needs no introduction. Their debut was released with much fanfare, selling faster than it could be kept in press. The "bringin’ it down" full-length took the band to an entirely different level. The meshing of metal-edged guitar riffs and fast, energetic hardcore without treading too far into the realm of crossover raised the bar for every band that dared to pick up their guitars. It was official- JUDGE was a full-fledged outbreak. And almost as suddenly as it had started, it was over. The complete discography compiles the entire recorded output of JUDGE. DoLP comes with gatefold-cover and includes a digital download card.
JUKE JOINT PIMPS, THE
boogie the house down (2008/VOODOO RHYTHM)
GARAGE/BLUES-ROCK. T-Man and Mighty Mike live in Cologne in Germany. They had been playing Memphis and Chicago blues in the rivalling bands THE SILVERSTONE and LITTLE ROGER & THE HOUSEROCKERS. A two-man band with drums, harmonica, guitar and a voice that can shatter glass - pretty much all you really need to play good music! They sound like ELMORE JAMES, HOWLIN' WOLF and REVEREND CHARLIE JACKSON. Within very little time THE JUKE JOINT PIMPS have evolved into a unique act. They sound “black” enough to cater to a traditional blues audience while being so wild, loud and raw that the punk rockers and garage freaks dig them just as much. And they’re really truckloads of fun to watch! Their 1st album on Voodoo Rhythm Records compiles tracks from 2 different recording sessions (1st demo and live recordings).
JULIE DOIRON
i can wonder what you did.. (2009/JAGJAGUWAR)
POST/FOLK-ROCK. Ex-ERIC'S TRIP member and Mt. Eerie associate Julie Doiron returns with another album's worth of artful, lo-fi songwriting, following on from 2007's "woke myself up". Doiron's stark and honest songwriting is bolstered by a band made up by her various bandmates: bassist Rick from ERIC'S TRIP and Fred Squire who last worked with Doiron on Mt. Eerie's superb "lost wisdom" album. The blend of Doiron's very open and rather gentle delivery works beautifully alongside the more rocking elements, lending a most welcome helping of electrified muck to the mix. Despite the rock-ish tendencies "i can wonder.." still offers up an intimate slice of Doiron's life, and it's another album to be treasured.
JUMP THE SHARK
Staring death (2008/DEAD TRUTH)
OLD-SCHOOL HARDCORE. Formed from various styles of hardcore and similar minded bands, JUMP THE SHARK are the new breed of “i don’t give a fuck” attitude. With several demos recorded, the band played as many shows das they could jump on. After some rehashing, literally and figuratively, drummer Jordan set out to record the full-length D.I.Y. style, packed with the intensity and fury from their live shows - "Staring death" is the hatchling. JUMP THE SHARK offering up 16 blistering tracks of raw, fast old-school hardcore tracks. You can call JUMP THE SHARK many things but insincere is not one of them.
JUNIOR VARSITY, THE
cinematographic (2007/VICTORY)
INDIE-ROCK. Springfield' THE JUNIOR VARSITY have crafted a style of rock that embraces elements of psychedelic prog and bittersweet pop, forming an album of substance, not cliche singles. They have managed to take the modern rock of bands like BRAND NEW, BAYSIDE and SAY ANYTHING and mix radio rock of years past of bands like THE POLICE, COUNTING CROWS and LED ZEPPELIN. Their influences are very broad, making it difficult to pinpoint where the band is coming from, yet that also makes it more exciting to see where the band is heading. THE JUNIOR VARSITY is ready to lead a new revolution with this new record.
JUST SAY GO
Revive (2006/RESIST)
SXE-HARDCORE. Positive hardcore is alive and well in Australia, thanks to Melbourne's JUST SAY GO. These five friends provide 12 tracks of well-recorded, tightly-played hardcore with a definite melodic influence, topped off with plenty of positive lyrics, and can easily be appreciated by fans of GORILLA BISCUITS, REACH THE SKY and TIME FLIES.
JUST SAY GO
Where it ends (2007/RESIST)
SXE-HARDCORE. Since beginning in late 2003, Australia's JUST SAY GO has become known Australia-wide for their intensely energetic live shows. Following in the tradition of bands such as UNIFORM CHOICE, YOUTH OF TODAY and 7 SECONDS, JUST SAY GO delivers honest, straightforward old-school hardcore that is more concerned with offering something sincere than following the hollow trend cycle saturating hardcore today. The MCD contains 2 songs not found on the 7''.
