LogFAQs > #976431415

10. Jockstrap I Love You Jennifer B
Art Pop, Glitch Pop, Chamber Pop, Progressive Pop, Folktronica
2022
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/5/4/7/AAeDEnAAE5Hz.png

@mcflubbin

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC80P4gsPr-ZF2Vaag5hJeKngTCo6O7k7

1. Concrete Over Water
2. Neon
3. Greatest Hits

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbDDU24yu7U

I have certain expectations for an artist named Jockstrap but Neon, the first song, defies them. Actually, it seems to defy everything, flitting between acoustic guitar and dense glitchy electronic. A bold opener I genuinely enjoy. I especially like the last minute.

Song 2, the eponymous Jennifer B, sounds like if a fairy got a hold of a DJs soundboard, and I mean that in the best possible way: lots of light effects undergirded by some periodic lush chords. Greatest Hits has this lovely piano melody supported by more glitchy effects and airy vocals.

Jockstrap consists of Georgia Ellery (vocals and other instruments) and Taylor Skye (production and other instruments). Ellery provides terrific singing that really rises off the songs (though her lyrics are often incomprehensible to me). The glitchy effects are mixed with more traditional fare: strings, guitars, piano. The result is a lush album that isnt afraid to explore some unexplored sonic places.

Concrete Over Water starts with either non-English or backwards speech (maybe both?) before segueing into a sparse, very beautiful ballad-esque song (though again I have no idea what Ellery is actually singing). The effect is mesmerizing, especially when the discordant strings come in, and then theres a huge beat drop with intense drums and holy shit this song has everything yes give me more. Wtf @ 3:35 the production becomes way rougher, you can even hear someone in the studio (Skye?) and I love that, what a fascinating choice. This song is a tough act to follow, so I feel bad for Angst, which cant really compare until the very end, with a rapid-fire vocal delivery. It still feels like a placeholder song though. Debra sounds like VGM so Im automatically predisposed to like it lol.

A few of the later songs (Glasgow, Lancaster Court) drag a little, perhaps symptoms of album fatigue, when an album stops being as exciting to me after so many similar songs. Or maybe I Love You Jennifer B is frontloaded. I dont know. All I know is I like the first half significantly more. But then theres 50/50 (Extended Mix), which can best be described as unhinged and goes to show that theres still a few surprises left.

Very enjoyable album, a real process of discovery for me. Thanks for nominating!