Junior Boys

Junior Boys have always presented themselves as songwriters first, electronic artists second. Like contemporaries Hot Chip or Caribou, the Hamilton, ON duo build emotional, brooding soundscapes that have as much to do with highs and lows as they do with ones and zeros. On It's All True, Junior Boys break their rules and redeem themselves within the album's first two tracks. Opener "Itchy Fingers" may be their most textured composition to date, as Jeremy Greenspan's trademark impassioned vocals take a back seat to Matt Didemus' synthetic BPMs, while "Playtime" is a slow jam worthy of soft jazz radio rotation. "A Truly Happy Ending" shows what a terrific understanding of dance music Junior Boys possess, as a simple shift in dynamics transforms a toss-off into a novel Italo disco throwback. "You'll Improve Me" and "Second Chance" rely exclusively on Greenspan's late night vocals, while "Kick the Can" and "ep" work as serialized loops. It's All True is Junior Boys' most polarizing album to date.