It seems that the collective that is the United Kingdom has fallen behind in creating inspired music. Where there are some acts that possess a solid sound (The Maccabees), a great many of the current acts garnering airplay there are pretty sad. Jonquil is an act that has operated under the radar; Point of Go is their latest on Dovecote records, and looks to do much to repair the U.K.’s perception on the world stage.
Point of Go begins with Swells, a solid introduction to the act. This beginning point provides brief glimpses into the band’s unique style, but leaves the door open for the band to take listeners on a number of journeys. It’s My Part bashes listeners over the course of four minutes with a catchiness that is unparalleled in current music; listeners will have the track’s melody tattooed in their minds. Whether the act is taking on sixties surf-pop (Beach Boys, Turtles) or a more varied approach (Stevie Winwood, Chicago), one can be assured that Jonquil’s music comes from the heart. Point of Go ends with a powerful 1-2 punch. History of Headaches provides listeners with the last full song on the album, and the track works in tandem with Psammead to give listeners closure. I do not know where Jonquil will go with titles to come, but I have little doubt in my mind that they will come out with a solid follow-up to Point of Go.
Make it a point to pick up a copy of Point of Go from your local music store, and see the band live whenever they touch down for a United States tour.
Top Tracks: Swells, Point of Go (Part 1)
Rating: 8.5/10
Jonquil – Point of Go (CD) / 2012 Dovecote / 11 Tracks / http://www.facebook.com/jonquilband / http://www.dovecoterecords.com
John Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur as Sargeant, is the founder and editor-in-chief of NeuFutur Magazine, where he has covered independent music, PC hardware, consumer tech, and gaming culture since 1998. With over 25 years of continuous digital publishing experience, he has written thousands of hands-on game and record reviews, conducted in-depth hardware field testing, and analyzed digital media monetization trends. His work prioritizes first-hand evaluation and long-term product testing.
Beats: Independent Music, PC Gaming & Peripherals, Consumer Tech, Webmaster Tools
Testing & Ethics: All hardware, software, and media reviews are conducted through hands-on evaluation in accordance with NeuFutur’s editorial independence standards; sponsored consideration is strictly excluded from editorial ratings.
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