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The Junior Varsity Break Up

October 22, 2007 By Bryce Jacobson 2 Comments

The Junior Varsity have decided to call it a day. You can read a message from the band below.

andy here with TJV.

If you’ve come to a show lately, you’ve surely been surprised by the current lineup. If you havent heard yet, asa quit the band and weve had our friend brandon carnes covering the lead singer/bass player duty until we decided what we want to do.

As it looks, all the current members of TJV are going to head back to college. So we’re sort of putting this thing on the back burner. We might do some shows here and there for fun, but we probably will not be touring as a band again. We have a show on Saturday November 10th at Illinois College in Jacksonville, Illinois. Currently, this is our last booked show, but we are planning to book a couple in december in the central illinois area. These may be the TJV farewell shows.

The support we have received from all these little cities in the cornfields has been overwhelming for the last 5 years. We couldnt have kept moving forward if it wasnt for the initial support we received from our home area. We are sorry for the demise of this band, but it is hard to replace a singer. Its almost like starting over again. Asa was our 2nd singer as it was.

November 10th in Jacksonville will definitely not be the last show though…we’ll plan a couple fun events. Nobody has too hard of feelings about the events that transpired…i think we are all ready to start a new life.

ALSO–you can catch me on tour this november playing guitar and piano for a band called “the dear hunter.” We’ll be all across the US opening for Circa Survive and i am very excited about the opportunity.

www.myspace.com/thedearhunter

Check em out…im sure you will love it. And come say hi at some of the shows this fall.

If anyone has any questions about whats going on, hit me up on my blackberry at andywildrick@gmail.com

ill be driving 19 hours by myself to rhode island today…so entertain me haha.

thanks for the love guys.

-andy

Filed Under: News Tagged With: the-junior-varsity

The Junior Varsity – Cinematographic

July 3, 2007 By Adam Weidman Leave a Comment

The Junior Varsity

Artist: The Junior Varsity
Album: Cinematographic
Label: Victory Records
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: June 19th, 2007

Overall: 7.5
Music: 8.0
Lyrics: 7.5
Production: 7.0

Back in May I was lucky enough to get a preview of Cinematographic as The Junior Varsity took to a corner of a neglected gymnasium in a sleepy college town and played a string of tracks from their latest release. The record showcases a great deal of all around growth for the group. Much has transpired in the years between 2005’s Wide Eyed and the present, they have seemingly taken it all in and let it all back out with Cinematographic. A dozen well-crafted tunes comprise the disc, ranging from spacey/eerie tones to more straightforward hard-hitting rock. Thus securely placing The Junior Varsity as one of the top alternative bands in the indie scene today.

As the record begins a subdued and indistinct guitar plays; following a few bars it subsequently rings out until all of the instruments come in. This serves to set the tone for “I Went Blind” a song that is both sonically corpulent and precisely paced. The first single from the record, “The SKY!” produces vivid imagery that is painted with each line delivered by vocalist, Asa Dawson. Reflection appears to be the basis behind “Wunderdrug” as the lyrics evoke a tale of youthful escapades, from building igloos to climbing trees in suburban Illinois. I can safely say that “St. Louis” is my favorite song, I really enjoy the line “well how could I grow tired of being useless/when the more I work, the more I lose it/this could be the life inside of you.” Unfortunately “The Greatest” falls short of being just that. However it’s more than made up for, as the the social conscience of modern living is taken to task on the compelling and textured track “The Importance of Being Important.” Flowing impeccably into the instrumental “Memory Made Easy” which features a beautiful acoustic guitar backed by a charming string arrangement. On the song “Try to Define” I feel that the band virtually channeled Jimmy Eat World, as it is so skillfully arranged and layered.

Overall Cinematographic is a relative change for the group, but the title track is a genuine departure. Highlighting Nick Dodson on saxophone, the song remains low key and allows the lyrical content to provide the largest impact. Showcasing shades of a familiar sound “Lungs” is a welcome addition, but becomes slightly unsettling to the ears as the chorus hits. The album comes to a close with “Under the Radar” delivering powerful lines such as it’s all wrong again and now it all comes back to you/you’ve got to find a new meaning, a higher view.” Marvelously charged and brilliantly vibrant, Cinematographic plays out like a sonic film, scene by scene and song by song. With prevalent themes of the afterlife, struggles with power and those that hold it, not to mention the unnecessary items that take control of our lives. In this summer heat, The Junior Varsity has not only given us all something to listen to but to think about as well.

Track List
1. I Went Blind
2. The SKY!
3. Wunderdrug
4. St. Louis
5. The Greatest
6. The Importance of Being Important
7. Memory Made Easy
8. Try to Define
9. Cinematographic
10. Lungs
11. Lifted
12. Under the Radar

Filed Under: Album, Reviews Tagged With: the-junior-varsity, Victory Records

Albums In Stores Tomorrow 6-19-07

June 18, 2007 By Bryce Jacobson Leave a Comment

Here are some albums hitting stores tomorrow.

The Junior Varsity – Cinemtographic
Straylight Run – The Needles The Space
August Burns Red – Messengers
Project 86 – Rival Factions
White Stripes – Icky Thump
Nora – Save Yourself
Ruiner – Prepare To Be Let Down
The Number Twelve Looks Like You – Mongrel
Rocky Votolato – Brag And Cuss

Filed Under: News Tagged With: August Burns Red, Nora, Project-86, rocky-votolato, Ruiner, Straylight Run, the-junior-varsity, The-Number-12-Looks-Like-You

The Junior Varsity Cinematographic Album Art

June 6, 2007 By Bryce Jacobson Leave a Comment

The Junior Varsity are set to release their new album, Cinematographic, on June 19th on Victory Records. Head to their MySpace page now to hear new songs from the album.
Junior Varsity

Filed Under: Album Art, News Tagged With: the-junior-varsity, Victory Records

The Junior Vasity to Record New Album

February 27, 2007 By Jamie Pham Leave a Comment

The Junior Varsity will be heading to Long Island, NY to record their new album.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: the-junior-varsity

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