Music Review: Junkie XL - Booming Back At You - Page 2

The dance-lounge number “Mad Pursuit” is another highlight, with it’s finger-snapping beats and airy, tremolo-aided guitars, as is the dirty, heavy and kick-ass big-beats of “More,” where Rocket emphatically (and weirdly, unless purposely continuing the videogame theme) refrains: “Rock more/roll more/fuck more/pac-man is loving it.”

Elsewhere, there is a little more diversity to the record, with final cut “Not Enough,” as its low-key vocals and bright keyboard work make the track reminiscent of New Order. But the record has more of those dance floor-ready videogame rave-ups like “No Way,” another Lauren Rocket-sung track; it is a bit overproduced, as her urgent, high-pitched vocals didn’t need to be doubled.

Overall, Booming Back At You is a mixed bag, with slightly more repeat-worthy jams than skipable tracks (or ones that are more suited for amusing background music). I give Junkie XL credit for branching out and trying something different, at least from his excellent (and underrated) 2006 release Today. That record was was chock full of dreamy alterna-dance-pop, while this new one has JXL digging up some beats/blips from the ‘80s/Kraftwerk era with the intent on modernizing them. What Junkie XL needed to do though is coalesce his newfound and nostalgic influences into a more memorable record.

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Article Author: Charlie Doherty

Copy editor/content writer for Penn Multimedia; print/web journalist/freelancer, formerly for Boston Examiner, EMSI, Demand Studios, Brookline TAB, Suite 101 and Helium.com; co-head sports editor & asst. …

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