Jay Millar from the Plural of Vinyl highlights his favorite album of the moment.
Kiwi Jr., Football Money (Mint Records)
Despite the plethora of current Aussie bands that find their way onto the playlists of the Plural Of Vinyl, it somehow figures that Kiwi Jr. are a Canadian band. And oddly enough, at times they remind me of turn-of-the-century canucks The Flashing Lights, especially on the emotive jangly “Comeback Baby.” The Flashing Lights led by Matt Murphy of Super Friendz, were a favorite of mine so mixing that with some Pavement-ish sounds gets me into a full blown nostalgia love fest. If I’m merely dropping one lazy comparison it would be later era Pavement.
Produced by Alec O’Hanley, guitar player from Alvvays, and released in March of 2019 via Mint Records out of Toronto, it’s an effervescent jangly ball of indie-pop fun with smirk inducing lyrics delivered with a slightly snotty deadpan tone. Largely guitar, bass, drums, & keys but it’s lightly sprinkled with some other fun sounds.
A couple lines I feel like pointing out because they make me smile:
“I’m a salary man, I want cigarettes from Japan… that taste like oranges.” – from “Salary Man”
“Gimme more Star Wars, gimme open bar chords, gimme more, gimme more more more!” – from “Gimme More”
“Last night your dreams were broadcast, but no one you know owns a television” – from “Comeback Baby”
If I had a complaint about this record it would only be that it’s too damn short. Gimme more!
Jay Millar
The Plural of Vinyl
Tuesdays, 7-9 a.m.
