Album Reviews

Canada’s Junior Battles are back with “Rally”, their second full-length and while they show they have the indie hipster vibe down pat right to the handclaps on opener “(You Will Score The Winning) Goal”, they are still very much about pop-punk in cuts like “Every Town” and “Assholes On Rollerblades”, albeit a more refined version. There is also time for some worshipping at the Jawbreaker shrine in “TPS Reports” or for a mellow moment of reminiscence and gang vocals in “Architecture II : Future Music For The Children Of The Future”.

The best thing about “Rally” is that none of the songs sound alike yet they’re all tied together one way or another. Pretty much the only constant are the solid hooks and the way vocalists/guitarists Sam Sutherland and Aaron Zorgel feed off of each other while urging the other on. They had my interest peaked throughout the entire album and while “Rally” clocks in at just 26 minutes, it feels like a lot more simply because it has so much to offer. With this album Junior Battles show they have grown by leaps and bounds since their debut and while this one is less urgent, it’s no less fulfilling. Dig in, there’s plenty to go round!