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The Junior Varsity

The Great Compromise
2004
British

The Junior Varsity - The Great Compromise (Cover Artwork)

Review by: TheMarc
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Published on January 27th 2004

The Junior Varsity is from northern Illinois, and they play a brand of music similar to Armor For Sleep, Keepsake, and Park. While it's nothing genre-shattering, swoon-inducing, or what I like to call "BSD-worthy", it's still a fairly entertaining forty five minutes.

It's gotten to the point where there are a whole slew of other bands that play mid-paced pop-punk numbers with spiraling dual guitars and stop-and-go rhythms, and it's getting harder and harder to really say that which of them, if any, are really great. Yes, The Junior Varsity can play their respective instruments, as evidenced by some nice guitar lines and arrangement in songs like "House Fire" and "Park Your Car". Yes, The Junior Varsity can write songs that are fun to sing along to, like "Falling Far Behind". And yes, The Junior Varsity can churn out the occasional excellence, like the bass-driven "Anti-Climactic", and the lush and soothing "Demo Car City".

What seems to drag down some of these songs is the melody structure of lead vocalist Asa Dawson. While he has a very good voice, it seems like some vocal lines are too akward and simplistic, which ends up smothering promising songs like "The Introduction to the Faint Remembrance".

"The Great Compromise" sounds very good, as Lance Reynolds (NIL8, Alkaline Trio, Braid) keeps things very relaxed (especially on the snare sound), which works out well for the majority of the album. There are some scattered synth parts here and there, which are used pretty tastefully in "The Introduction..." and "Peter Cottontail and the Demise of the Carrot Tree". One other quick note: Tony Peck does a nice job on the drums, with some very inventive fills here and there.

As far as debut albums go, "The Great Compromise" is pretty solid, and definitely worth a listen. I wouldn't be too surprised if a little time leads to better things.

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, October 26, 2004 at 8:38 AM (EDT)
My Score:

such a low score ? please .. this cd is nothing short of amazing .

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 7, 2004 at 1:49 PM (EDT)
My Score:

Asa is my brother, and i find it humorus people say TJV is big headed and cocky. Obviously you dont know them. TGC is a great cd, but just wait for their new shit. It's amazing, catch their live show and you'll understand punks. haha

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 at 12:38 PM (EDT)
My Score:

i dont see why everyone thinks these guys are rude, u have to have some attitude to get what u want, u dont want to just be thrown around....and about the cd. its great

Posted by funkisdead on 2004-03-09 11:36:23
My Score:

anonymity?
how's this work for you.
funkisdead hates you

sincerely,
funkisdead.

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 5, 2004 at 12:05 AM (EST)
My Score:

i'll bet these people...or maybe just this person...is glad that these posts are anonymous. ya gotta love it when your name isnt included.

but since this is meant for reviews and comments, i'll do that. i love this album. the guitar work is beautifully done, and it's great when the live performance lives up to and even exceeds the recordings. this band has definitely grown a lot musically since their first ep.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 3, 2004 at 10:34 AM (EST)
My Score:

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 3, 2004 at 10:33 AM (EST)
My Score:

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 2, 2004 at 3:03 PM (EST)
My Score:

argh this is fucking lame

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 1, 2004 at 10:23 PM (EST)
My Score:

sounds like all the other bands out there

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 1, 2004 at 5:13 PM (EST)
My Score:

yeah i tend to do that (i.e. confuse people). take it for what it's worth.
-Janelle

Posted by TheMarc on 2004-02-01 14:20:51
My Score:

Why is my head on your wall? I'm so confused...

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 1, 2004 at 12:52 PM (EST)
My Score:

this score is for your head on my wall.
-Janelle

i have no idea what i'm talking about.

Posted by TheMarc on 2004-02-01 00:06:01
My Score:

Did he just call me a tripe? Or was it referring to the The Junior Varsity? Either way, I looked up "tripe", and it said "something poor, worthless, or offensive". This score is for the dictionary.

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 31, 2004 at 7:37 PM (EST)
My Score:

ARRGH FUCK THIS TRIPE! Yeah, I got namechecked, motherfuckers. And what have YOU done lately?

-BSD

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 31, 2004 at 4:12 PM (EST)
My Score:

they get the "meh". everything is pretty average. and i mean everything. except the guys in the band, they are a bit "big headed" if you will.

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 31, 2004 at 2:13 PM (EST)
My Score:

this album is a drag...
But BSD got name-checked in a review! That's so rad.
-Janelle

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 30, 2004 at 7:15 PM (EST)
My Score:

hey, aside from the band name, this is a damn good cd. i just got it off smartpunk...good quality, original stuff...looking forward to seeing them...coming anywhere near Colorado?

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 30, 2004 at 12:15 PM (EST)
My Score:

hey guys. awesome band, great music. the review tells you true. but why complain about playing last at shows? that's weak. i think that you guys should be less cocky. except for Asa, he's pretty humble about his incredible talent, and is just an all-over awesome guy. again, good music.

Posted by ThatotherGuy on 2004-01-30 12:06:16
My Score:

It's Up Down Up Down Left Right Left Right A B Start. You got the code messed up. And the code is not just a Konami code, it's the super code in Contra.

THAT GUY

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 30, 2004 at 8:09 AM (EST)
My Score:

""worst name ever"

Nah dude theres a band called up up down down left right left right B A Start. dont believe me

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 30, 2004 at 1:14 AM (EST)
My Score:

to the last post...what are your favorite bands? honestly. also, are you in junior high or high school? subquestion, did your mommy, or daddy, give you the money to purchase the latest simple plan at the mall? oh wait, is simple plan one of the bands this site DOES post about? i keep forgetting which bands get posted and which don't...this popularity contest is confusing.

so much for a united underground scene. which leads me to ask...are you in it for the music or just for the sake of spouting out half-rate insults about people that have more talent than you...?

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 29, 2004 at 10:33 PM (EST)
My Score:

what? its hard to type when your fingers are all slippery with your father's cum, so i'll just assume that whole post was some sort of hideous typo.

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 29, 2004 at 8:34 PM (EST)
My Score:

Ah, it's so refreshing to hear people's ranting and raving. Thanks everyone. Now, if you'd like to actually talk about crappy bands (and band names), how about saves the day? C'mon, I know people hate them.

As for The Junior Varsity, I downloaded the music. I liked it. A blend of many influences. Hmm, I thought that was what people considered "original". Obviously people just want to listen to their Brand New cd over and over and over.

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 29, 2004 at 3:46 PM (EST)
My Score:

i made out with Asa

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 29, 2004 at 1:46 PM (EST)
My Score:

they are soooo lame

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 29, 2004 at 12:31 AM (EST)
My Score:

dickheads indeed

Posted by FortyMinutesWest on 2004-01-28 23:55:03
My Score:

Keepsake used to be pretty cool, now they're beyond terrible.

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 at 10:13 PM (EST)
My Score:

I played a show with these guys one time and they're total dick heads. They cried cause they had to play last.

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 at 8:56 PM (EST)
My Score:

the people in this band have got a huge ego problem

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 at 5:19 PM (EST)
My Score:

unbelievable lame, music to watch your cock go down

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 at 3:46 PM (EST)
My Score:

i would have to say 2 chicks and one guy in a band that all dress up like cheerleaders and play at grade schools and shit is about as weak as it could possibly get!

Posted by devildog1507 on 2004-01-28 10:01:46
My Score:

listened to it, really have to say that Junior Varsity with Bam Bam Bam are great, man but this is so lame I had to put it out and listen to the dwarves "are young and good looking" which is unbelievable great. Fuck this weak shit...

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 at 1:26 AM (EST)
My Score:

If this is what I have to look forward to in 2004, shoot me now.

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 at 1:02 AM (EST)
My Score:

"worst name ever"

Nah dude theres a band called up up down down left right left right B A Start. dont believe me

http://www.upupdowndown.org/

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 at 12:04 AM (EST)
My Score:

worst name ever

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 11:36 PM (EST)
My Score:

these kids are way young and put on a pretty good show. Most definitly full of promise.

Posted by tyroneshoelaces on 2004-01-27 17:50:01
My Score:

Got this disc the other day, It's a pretty solid album.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 5:34 PM (EST)
My Score:

This album rocks! I see great things in store for these guys.

Oh yeah Devildog, there is a band "Junior Varsity" as opposed to this band "The Junior Varsity" aka TJV. TJV also had a demo out, but it was with a different singer, Noah Wenger. Asa kicks butt though.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 4:21 PM (EST)
My Score:

NIL8 owns

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 4:18 PM (EST)
My Score:

hey my friends brother is the drummer for NIL8

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 4:05 PM (EST)
My Score:

This album is great, but I promise all of you, you don't truly know how great the Junior Varsity is until you've seen them live. It blows everything you could possibly think about the album out of the water.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 3:16 PM (EST)
My Score:

These guys are amazing.. If you like the cd at all.. you'll love them that much more live....

I've seen them four times now, and it wasnt until TJV that i saw a member of a band attack another band member with their instrument (in this case asa with his bass) and then start playing it on the ground while screaming into the mic. and jumping......

Maybe you guys have seen that before though...

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 3:14 PM (EST)
My Score:

I like the font on the album cover.

I'm all about fonts anymore.

Is that a disease?

Nerf Herder rules.

- Kirby

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 12:22 PM (EST)
My Score:

awesome band saw them at the metro the other day!!! ! i was blown away! i had to buy this cd and it hasnt left my player since!! thank for making such an awesome album!!! dance party!!!

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 12:05 PM (EST)
My Score:

Braid's live album was produced by him, I think.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at 12:00 PM (EST)
My Score:

When did Bra!d work with Lance Reynolds....?

Posted by TheMarc on 2004-01-27 10:33:24
My Score:

Nope, that's a different band. Although I love that "Dance, Franny, Dance" cover.

Posted by devildog1507 on 2004-01-27 10:06:00
My Score:

Is that really their debut. I own a LP by a band called Junior Varsity that is about 3 years old and called Bam Bam Bam. Its pretty damn great. Is that the same band????

Posted by TheMarc on 2004-01-27 09:55:36
My Score:

Sorry about the grammar error.