Scanning channels with my remote several weeks ago, I paused on MTV 2. An outrageous video appeared on my screen. Animation that brilliantly recalled the graphics on my long-replaced Commodore 64 was constructed in a magnetic and farcical fashion. It completely captivated me. The music was upbeat and accompanied the images flawlessly. Wanting more, I plugged into their Web site.

Junior Senior is a two-member band that hails from Denmark. To describe the functions of each member, think Hall and Oates with Oates being boastfully gay. Junior (the heterosexual one) is the focal singer, bassist, guitarist and co-producer. Senior promotes a 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy' brand of muse; he performs handclaps (yes, handclaps) and a droll yet weak Fred Schneider (B-52s lead singer) imitation.

A manic collage of genres and sounds are featured at a breakneck pace. Energy is infused into every single track; cheeky proto-punk, dance pop, r&b, rock and other genres are cut, pasted and sampled. "Move Your Feet" somewhat misrepresents D-d-don't Don't Stop The Beat because the vocals were performed by a guest (Thomas Troelsen). Junior cannot carry a tune, so wisely, he decided to spew the words using a Detroit garage-styled approach. It provides a unique but discordant sound that actually removes some of the gleam produced by the Dust Brothers-inspired sampling.

Although the samples constantly transform, the structure is monotonous and D-d-don't Don't Stop The Beat catches an infection that prevents repeated listens due to melody deficiency. Total deflation came when I actually listened to the words. One random example (just pick any) is evidenced in the 1st verse and chorus of "Chicks and Dicks"…

"Senior: Boy b-boy boys, I'm handsome and tall, Junior: Girl g-girl girls, I'm nasty and small, Senior: But I'm a man man I don't need no chick, Junior: I'm a man man I don't need no dick Chorus Junior: What you gonna do do after dark? Say, Senior: What you gonna do do after dark? Junior: Who you gonna do do after dark? Say, Senior: Who you gonna do do after dark? Junior: Gimme girls girls girls, Senior: Gimme boy boy-oy-oys, Junior: Yeah, whoo! Gimme girls girls girls, Senior: Gimme boy boy-oy-oys, Junior: Yeah, whoo!"

Well, do you get it...? One is straight and the other is gay! Phew (or whoo, rather), that was extreme lyrical and stylistic randomness. Junior Senior actually make Andrew W.K. sound literate by comparison.

Much like a desperate one-night fling, D-d-don't Don't Stop The Beat is attractive under a disco ball and in a club setting. However, underneath it all, it's soulless and not worthy of a second call. Junior Senior are two wild and crazy guys; intelligent and skillful, they're not.

Rating: C-

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