I don't often participate in the multi-blog phenomenon that is Monday's Long Song, but I recently acquired a piece of music that I thought would be a good way of testing the concept - possibly to destruction.
Junior Brother is a man whose voice was described by the woman from Manchester I found myself sitting next to at a recent live performance as "grating". I wouldn't agree but it is certainly wayward and lacking in some of the conventional virtues like hitting all the right notes.
For me that is part of JB's charm. But can that charm by maintained over nearly twenty minutes and can you the listener make it all the way through? That's the test today.
I strongly suspect that George will be the only person to even attempt the task so let's rephrase the question using his famous 2B scale - is this bobbins or bifter?
Sock it to 'em, JB.
"Junior Brother's Favourite" - Junior Brother
Bobbins
ReplyDeleteI did it but probably for the last time. A lot of good ideas in this song but too long.
ReplyDeleteI'm inclined to agree. There are probably 4 or 5 different songs in there, they might have been better served keeping them separate rather than wrapping them all up in one.
DeleteChallenge accepted
ReplyDelete4 minutes in, and if it were not for the vocal this could be a great song. 15 minutes to go
DeleteI'm struggling now
DeleteDespite a strong finish to the song, I agree with Mr CC: bobbins
DeleteThanks. I will advise Mr Brother that if he wants a hit he would be advised to cut out the 15 minutes in the middle and find someone else to sing it for him.
DeleteNow I'll readily admit that I haven't had, what you might call, any online presence whatsoever in the past couple of years, but stone me, how have I never even heard of Junior Brother before today? I for one really enjoyed this epic tune and spent much of it researching JB's previous and forthcoming career. Turns out in February he's playing a venue a mere 77 miles from my front door and I'm currently seriously contemplating going to the show, even though it means I wouldn't get home until after midnight and will have to be up for work at 4 the next morning. I'm now about to plunge into his Bandcamp page in search of further gems. Thanks for the intro Ernie!
ReplyDeleteAt last, a sophisticate!
DeleteI first heard of him in 2016 when a copy of his 'F*** Off I Love You' EP was playing in a record shop on a visit to Dublin. I bought that but have only really dipped in and out since.
My first time seeing him live was at a recent Incredible String Band tribute. Perhaps not surprising but his voice and their songs work very well together.
Enjoy the gig if you decide to go. If it is the one on 2 February I would have been tempted to join you as it is an easy train journey for me, but am currently due to be working overseas that week.
I admire JB's ambition and 20 mins is a hefty dose of JB to take in. I can see how his voice could be divisive. For the record I like the middle section best.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks to all our readers who bravely undertook the challenge. I think it is fair to say there is no consensus on the merits of JB's epic.
ReplyDelete