JJ72 - Are they really that good?
Oisin Horgan,
Skerries CC, Dublin
David Hayden poses the question:
Is it all music media hype or could they (JJ72) be Ireland's next U2?
I have seen way too many bands in the last decade or so, hyped as Ireland's
next U2. Examples of those I personally remember are Whipping Boy and
Junkster. Both of these extremely promising bands managed to release one
album before sinking into obscurity (though Whipping Boy are attempting
a comeback with a second album).
So why has this sad fate befallen
these two bands? This has more to do with the current state of the music
industry than it does with their respective talents. U2 landed a record
deal at a time when rock bands were the staple of the industry. From even
a quick glance at the history of U2, it is obvious that they did not achieve
instant world-wide fame and respect. It was not until their hugely acclaimed
album "Joshua Tree", that they achieved that that has made their name
synonymous with success in this country.
Maybe Joshua Tree was the
album U2 wanted to make when they first formed, but I doubt it. Rather,
their previous work allowed them to hone their craft to the standard required
for the international fame they earned for it.
The main difference between
U2 and both of the other bands I've named is that U2 didn't have to achieve
platinum sales on their first album. They were given time to mature and
develop their sound. They were signed to a label at a time that was more
forgiving to rock bands. If you think about it, its only U2's huge success
in the past, their loyal following and wealth that allows them to continue
producing the music they want to produce in today's environment.
What happened to Whipping
Boy and Junkster? They were both expected to achieve the world-wide success
of U2, by their first album. They needed this level of popularity to continue
to produce music. This is a nigh on impossible task to achieve. If they
had done the impossible however they would still be major players today.
It’s not surprising that they couldn't. It’s like expecting a painter
to produce his/her masterpiece the first time they use a proper canvas
with proper paints to produce a picture. The Mona Lisa was not Leonardo
De Vinci's first painting, indeed the Mona Lisa was painted nine times
on the same canvas before it was judged right by Leonardo. Junkster was
never given a second chance. Whipping Boy has fought tooth and nail for
their's...
In light of this I'm afraid
that JJ72 will find it extremely hard to be allowed to mature into the
kind of rock band that stands astride the world. After all if talent were
all that was required by a rock band for fame today, everyone reading
this article would have heard of "Silverchair". Silverchair are an Australian
band that produced "Suicidal Dream", a classic example of a rock song
when they were only sixteen. That's enough raw talent to make most people
jealous. Yet, they remain almost unheard of in this country.
Touching briefly on another
subject. While meaning no disrespect to JJ72 or to David for that matter,
his claim that JJ72 are original is ridiculous. It’s impossible to miss
the fact that JJ72 are using the exact same three piece set-up that Nirvana
achieved success with in 1991 and that The Offspring started out with
in 1989. A three piece sound that has been thoroughly explored since by
such bands as "Everclear" and even the Irish "Kerbdog" (currently "Wilt").
There’s nothing wrong with
this set-up, which lends itself to a simple punk (some would say grunge)
style. However it doesn't take a high IQ to realise that there are only
so many sounds that can possibly be made on these three instruments. This
set-up lacks even the four piece rock groups scope and complexity This
complexity is needed to create such, near orchestral rock songs as "Soma"
by the Smashing Pumpkins. Possibly, it’s even needed to create an original
sound that varies something more fundamental than the lyrics.
Original? Hardly. At best
JJ72 are interpreting an established genre, at worst they're playing rock
by numbers, and are really just a pop group.
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