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The Junior Varsity

Wide Eyed (2005)
Victory Records

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: crazytoledo
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on August 5th 2005

One of the current trends in popular music is indie/synth rock. Bands like Modest Mouse and the Killers are becoming success stories and their latest singles air all over the airwaves. But as of late, emo is starting to take over the spot that's currently held by bands like the Killers and Modest Mouse. So I wasn't surprised to see a band that takes the current trend of music and mixes it with the emo scene.

On the album Wide Eyed, the Junior Varsity sound like your textbook emo band. Some barely there guitar verses that throw hooks and try to sound catchy at the courses and vocals that go from almost near-spoken to high-pitched, almost whiny singing. It wouldn't be to much of a surprise for some to like this album because, in the end, it's almost a straightforward emo CD. From the music to the vocals, and even the clichéd lyrics, you'd think there is nothing unique or different about the Junior Varsity.

What makes Wide Eyed different than say, Hawthorne Heights' latest disc, is they have something different about them. The synth and keys throughout the album make Junior Varisty somewhat different than all the other emo bands. After the novelty of listening to a band that tries to sound unique is over, the keys aren't all too prominent or over-thrilling and don't seem to fit to their potential. Listening to "Mad For Medusa," I liked what they did in that department, but elsewhere it just doesn't help the other flawed areas that the Junior Varsity have.

The Junior Varsity get cred on Wide Eyed for being different than every other band, but in the end, don't capitalize on it enough and it can't seem to save the fact that the majority of Wide Eyed is just like every other Victory emo band. The fancy cover art or "Mad For Medusa" may draw you in, but this is one ride you shouldn't partake in.

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dangertrevor (June 25, 2006)

I stand by the fact that you have extremely bad taste and I feel sorry for you.

crazytoledo (June 22, 2006)

Metalcore boy?

Psh, I listen to more than metalcore.

And I stand by my opinion.

dangertrevor (June 19, 2006)

This band is in no absolute way cliche. Listen to to lyrics metalcore boy, do you hear "cut my wrists" or "shoot me in the face" because of some girl? I will say the first jv release "the Great Comprmise" was amazing. To my dismay they changed their sound alot for their victory debut. Still a good album because it was different. I was at the cd release show and got the cd, I stilll listen to it because it's something very many bands haven't pulled off. I hate the repetitive shit that comes from most bands today, namely alot from the nu metal genres and emo genres.

Anonymous (September 26, 2005)

They're alright. A few of their songs are catchy.

crazytoledo (August 14, 2005)

fuck all you haters. this is a solid band on the rise. don't cry just because they make more money than however much your moms give you.

J. Tate

How cool are you? My name is Jason Tate, I run absolute punk which is nothing but Emo, but we try to say were punk, we cry and cut ourselves cause of our miserable life, and when someone doesnt like one of our shitty bands, I call them haters. I feel so cool...

Idiot

Anonymous (August 11, 2005)

sorry, but i love this cd.

http://www.pep-rock.com/CD Reviews - The Junior Varsity.htm

http://www.absolutepunk.net/reviews.php?action=vie warticle&artid=188

Anonymous (August 8, 2005)

i listened to the album all the way through and thought most of the songs were well written. i can understand not liking the vocals and whatnot but if you even listened to a few of the songs later in the cd, they have some awesome time changes, transitions, drumming, and guitar riffs. that guitar part on track 8 at 3:45 is awesome.

i guess all im saying is atleast they have some talent and can play instruments and are trying to throw in some technicality.

Anonymous (August 8, 2005)

Mad for Medusa is fucking ridiculous.not good music.anyone reading this review needs to remember: just say no to shitty music

Anonymous (August 8, 2005)

on second thought, crazytoldedo ranks pretty high up there on the shitty scale. better luck next time dude, this review is worthless

Anonymous (August 8, 2005)

on second thought, crazytoldedo ranks pretty high up there on the shitty scale. better luck next time dude, this review is worthless

Anonymous (August 8, 2005)

honestly I think Anchors is the worst reviewer on this website. he's always using lame ass analogies thinking he's "clever" and "all knowing of music". the dude's a fucking tool. you can define music genre's all you want but don't be a damn tool by talking about irrelevant shit. Anchors needs to just STOP altogether

Anonymous (August 8, 2005)

Dear reviewer,

Read this EMO FAQ:

http://www.fourfa.com/

Stop throwing around the word emo... better yet, stop trying to define it!

Anonymous (August 7, 2005)

I think this is the most poorly written review I have ever read.

Anonymous (August 7, 2005)

suburban kids with nothing to talk about...

Anonymous (August 7, 2005)

I like this band.

Alright review, but poorly written.

"Emo" isn't a word that should be freely thrown around. Saying a band is different because they are different...I think that speaks for itself.

Anonymous (August 7, 2005)

I also went to ISU, I got so sick of these guys playing shows every weekend... nobody cares about them

Anonymous (August 7, 2005)

god does this band blow, talk about just more of the same

Anonymous (August 7, 2005)

The reviewer has no clue what emo is.

Anonymous (August 7, 2005)

"The synth and keys throughout the album make Junior Varisty somewhat different than all the other emo bands."

Your an idiot. I can think of many bands who do the exact same shit. Say Hi To Your Mom for example. The difference is that this band sucks.

theevilmonkey (August 6, 2005)

"The synth and keys throughout the album make Junior Varisty somewhat different than all the other emo bands."

You're right. There aren't ANY other bands using synth and keys. Not one. Nope. The Junior Varsity is the only one. They're the first. Congratulations.

Anonymous (August 6, 2005)

"What makes Wide Eyed different than say, Hawthorne Heights' latest disc, is they have something different about them."

that's brilliant! thanks for the insight.

Anonymous (August 6, 2005)

to whoever said this band makes a lot of $ is a moron, in fact they got a shitty ass contract, but wanted to tell everyone they were on victory, good luck to selling more 5 complete cd's worth of redundant garbage. 6 cd contract, 10% gain, hahaha you must be fucking kidding. Victory owns your soul. You dont even get to keey your 6 cd's worth of songs in the end, what the fuck were you thinking?

TheMarc (August 5, 2005)

Tracks 1-3 rule, but the rest is pretty boring. I went to ISU with these kids too, and I wish them the best.

-Strewtho- (August 5, 2005)

score is for the term "Hair in the face" rock.

Anonymous (August 5, 2005)

damn somebody below is a fucking hater

Anonymous (August 5, 2005)

haha, this band went to the same college I did. When they finally made it to their senior year they decided to drop out and and put all their efforts into touring.

this band is a huge waste a time. not very good at all. they played shows every weekend in the bloomington/normal area with another shitty band called blame twillight. these two bands only did so becuase they were friends with the two people who put on shows, see distant failure productions.

so what have we learned? TJV and blame twillight are a bunch of assholes. it pays to suck up to a production company that is run by two college kids in order to rule the b/n area (the only place i belive they have fans in fact. both banda are unoriginal in everything they do.

but hey, i heard those absolutepunk guys love them and give them just as many updates per day as fall out boy... almost

Anonymous (August 5, 2005)

i saw the drips last night

they were fucking killer

they were pretty much like the bronx, but with a few different people and a little bit pop-punkier, but in a good way

-the other scott

Anonymous (August 5, 2005)

fuck all you haters. this is a solid band on the rise. don't cry just because they make more money than however much your moms give you.

J. Tate

Anonymous (August 5, 2005)

So, you can't love music AND dislike this band?
Somebody should tell people these things.

DouglasTheFishie (August 5, 2005)

This review is an atrocious waste of space, can't comment on the CD, but someone needs to learn how to write.

stevejonestherealbones (August 5, 2005)

"you guys are assholes. your oppinon dont matter,i hate that you think it does. get a job, get off thei internet, and love music again."

the opinion of the people buying the music doesnt matter?

thats odd...record deals for everyone no matter what anyone thinks!!!!

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

inagreendase (August 5, 2005)

Snooze.

Anonymous (August 5, 2005)

you guys are assholes. your oppinon dont matter,i hate that you think it does. get a job, get off thei internet, and love music again.

Anonymous (August 5, 2005)

"I go to school here in Chicago. The poster for this album was on about 5 stories worth of a 10 story building that my classes are in"

PUNK RAWK!

Anonymous (August 5, 2005)

this band is awful, they almost were enough to ruin the final hey mercedes show for me

terrible terrible music

Anonymous (August 5, 2005)

these guys are a band of nice, fun loving pot heads.

not so into the music though.

Anonymous (August 5, 2005)

I'm not sure what scares me more, this review, or the people saying "great review"......

This band irritates me, but gosh, this review was awful.

Anonymous (August 5, 2005)

"What makes Wide Eyed different than say, Hawthorne Heights' latest disc, is they have something different about them. The synth and keys throughout the album make Junior Varisty somewhat different than all the other emo bands."

score's for the ghastly writing.

istapledmyfoot (August 5, 2005)

Since always

Anonymous (August 5, 2005)

since when is Modest Mouse indie/synth rock?

Russe11 (August 5, 2005)

Good review. Shitty band.

Archangel (August 5, 2005)

It kind of pains me to see Modest Mouse and the Killers being compared in any way.

stevejonestherealbones (August 5, 2005)

why the fuck would you call yourself the junior varsity?

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

etwiels88 (August 5, 2005)

Score is for Modest Mouse.

Anonymous (August 5, 2005)

Typical "Hair in the Face" rock. Not worth anyone's time.

Anonymous (August 5, 2005)

I go to school here in Chicago. The poster for this album was on about 5 stories worth of a 10 story building that my classes are in.

Two weeks ago, I ripped them all down. Great review, couldnt agree more.