Jupiter Johnson

Clocking in at a total of 18 minutes, Jupiter Jhnson's debut album Major Bummers hardly gives the listener a chance to catch their breath as it moves and evolves from one track to the next. The track order flows smoothly, each song sliding nicely from one to the next. While they all fit clearly into the fuzzy punk-pop genre (the dirge of a closer “Dark Days Come On” notwithstanding), there’s enough diversity in tempo and key to prevent any kind of fatigue. Some songs rely on pure power and zest ("NO GO NO GO," "Big Man," "Shoulda Coulda Forever") while others buzz along with midtempo hooks ("Let’s Blow Off Work," "Blackout Backlash," and standout "DYI DIE").

The mixes are overblown but balanced, with every element audible and working together. Throughout, these songs give the impression of a manic burst of creativity captured at or near the moment of inspiration. Nothing is overworked – even a bridge is difficult to detect amid the verse-chorus barrage – but this contributes to the frenetic expression of the album. While some of the progressions are simple and self-referential, they avoid sounding repetitive due to the swagger of the music. There’s an enticing element of bravado that carries the most successful moments on this quick album – and most of the moments are successful.

I’d categorize it as a fuzzy throwback to the unbridled machismo of early Mudhoney and Dinosaur Jr, but with the cool of a Julian Casablancas front man. It’s a total blast that deserves significant attention.