Review: New Junk City – “Beg A Promise”

AF Records – 21 October 2022

Vintage vibes and 90’s nostalgia but brand spanking NEW!

There’s an old school feel to the latest release from Atlanta’s New Junk City and you can tell they’ve grown a little since the last time we’ve seen them. The songs themselves on Beg A Promise are kinda like kids. You can tell they’re from the same family, there are striking similarities, they speak the same language using identical idioms, yet each has its own unique personality. You can also tell they’ve been raised well by loving parents. 

“High Contrast” starts off the record feeling familiar with a simple fuzzy guitar lead before jumping right into the fray, beginning things on a positive note with an infectious energy and marrying that momentum into “Quitters” with a few hammer-ons and pounding power chords before briefly waltzing into an alternative time signature. “Cavities” continues carrying that same vivaciousness complete with palm mutes, a bass backbone that, though simplistic, is and will continue to be the glue that holds the band together, and drums that seem to have been in the driver’s seat all along and “Old Maid” solidifies that feeling of familiarity. I’m finding myself drawn to common denominators with Dead To Me. Is it me or could that guitar tone be mistaken for a fiddle before bleeding into an organ in the outro? 

They dial back the demeanor ever so slightly in “Rosey,” the lead single for the album, but still maintain their token detailed, guitar driven dynamics. It’s as if they decided to take a moment to stop and smell, well… the roses. I feel like it could have been written by a young Evan Dando for It’s A Shame About Ray. Following closely is “Left Shoes Jimmy” which has a similar sort of spirit, very vibrant and reminiscent of The Replacements with a little bit of The Loved Ones. 

Now that they’ve taken a moment to breath, however brief it may be, they add a pinch of punk prowess back to “In The Shade” but they’re expanding their ability to compose a little outside of their well built box and embracing that aspect with the addition of a xylophone and soft backing vocals “nah nah nah…”. Maybe I’m hearing the Hot Water Music? Playing with another off beat song structure, “Last Looks” has them still savoring the same overdriven guitar sounds supported by repetitious lead riffs while “Gideon” goes deeper and a little darker with hints of Husker Du and and maybe a small amount of The Menzingers. 

Winding down once again with “Old Maid (Reprise)” there’s a resemblance to Spanish Love Songs with similarities to “Nuevo” from Schmaltz. With a bit of a lo-fi feel, it’s like you’re sitting in the same empty room being serenaded as if the performance is for you and you alone while “Sold In Bunches,” the record’s exit and latest single, finds them exploring the more experimental nature of their approach to song writing, expanding their use of additional instrumentation by spreading their wings with horns and strings providing an orchestral element and a fitting end to a fantastic album. Same same, but different. 

There’s still an edginess present that evokes thoughts of The Ergs or a bit of The Brokedowns. There’s an air of cautious optimism woven into the fabric of the lyricism, enveloping the desire to get by and be better, addressing their imperfections through introspection and feeling proud of the present and hopeful for the future. Production wise, it’s a little more polished than their previous release, Same Places, each song seeping from one to the next in succession and the end result feels timeless. It’s as if they’re making something old feel new again. The vocals are slightly more subdued and affected but the same infectious performance aspects are still present alongside what feels like a band that’s begun to mature as musicians and artists. 

They’re painting with an expanded palette of guitar tones which are incredibly complimentary and certainly take center stage, staying true to their definitive sound while still making music that’s indicative of growth, pushing the boundaries of their past work but not to a punishing degree. Breathe a sigh of relief. They’re still a punk band albeit one that’s not afraid of even the tiniest bit of change but still purveying their brand of uptempo rock n’ roll with a passionate interpretation while simultaneously strumming their heart strings.