Junkyard Groove - 11:11

2009 seems to be the year that Indian bands finally release their albums. Hot on the heels of their ‘just-to-appease-the-fans’ EP, Nicer In A Minute comes Junkyard Groove’s debut album, 11:11. Produced by Junkyard Groove and Joshua F. Williams, the album was expected to be released about a year ago, but now that it is finally out, we’re not complaining at all. Like they say on the JYG website, “The music is good but the music industry is not such a pretty picture after all.” All we can tell you boys is, it’s okay, it’s alright.

Junkyard Groove have always been a step ahead of other bands in the scene, what with the constant publicity, the updates and the EP, just to keep their fan base dynamic and alive. And the album does enough justice to all the hype that Ameeth Thomas has generated about it in your Facebook and Gmail inboxes.

The fact that a few of these songs have been up and about the scene for a while now helps the album out a lot, by enabling the listener, in my case - me, consequently, in your case - you, to relate to it instantly.

The first song on the album that catches your fancy as soon as the opening bars are played in Imagine, which in my humble opinion is probably the best Junkyard Groove song there is. Imagine is the second song on the album, after a mediocre opening track called Open. The upbeat funky drive from Siddharth’s guitar keeps you tuned into the song for hours, and the perfect vocal harmonies are an uplift into a happy mood.

‘Been So Long’, a Pearl Jam-esque track where Ameeth seemingly lets loose. Once again, the driving guitar that is now more or less trademark Siddharth takes over, giving the song that little bit more that makes it so completely JYG. Oh, and if you well and truly want your mind blown, watch out for Craig’s bass solo at the end of this one.
Another one of my favourite tracks finds its place on the album, the vernacular heavy Folk You. I remember watching Ameeth and the band play this one live a couple of years ago, and the feel that they created with this one on stage is more or less recreated with every listen. Though JYG seem to have reworked the intro, the song remains Simple lyrics and high on melody, if you can sing like Ameeth Thomas can, there ain’t no lady you can’t lay.

Bringing more funk to the mix is Thank You, way too much like Pearl Jam, taking the tempo up another level and almost entirely without the twin acoustic-electric guitar work, the drumming on this one is especially sexy. One song that does start off in inimitable JYG style is Let You Go. Simple and seemingly straight from the heart, the song speaks of unfulfilled love on the part of a guy, and how the girl of his dreams might not even care.  ‘Twinkle Twinkle’ is your friendly neighbourhood nursery rhyme turned love ballad with panache and style; check out Ameeth almost rapping just before the solo.

Finally, when the album moves on to the 8th song on the disc, you come to listen to what is easily the anthem of the Indian scene along side some other gems, like Voice and PSP. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, boys and little girls, It’s OK. Although I am a little more than disappointed that they didn’t include the original version of the song, whatever is on the album is more than enough to rock out to. A friend of mine commented, on listening to this version that the song lacked that little bit of dance-able-ness and punch. But I guess we’ll get used to this one soon enough too.
All in all, the album ranks highly on enjoyability, and the sheer joy of having a contemporary Indian rock album worth its salt in your hand gives you a feeling of immense pride. The guitar tone though seems a little wet and places, lacking the drive that we are so accustomed to, but I’m sure that those who are into JYG will overlook that as some creative liberty that the band is allowed. If there was someone who doubted the fact two years ago at Launch Pad, then let me be the first to proclaim the arrival of our very own kings of southern rock, like they say at the beginning of Rock and Roll, – ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Jengyard Groove!