The Junction

The Junction have been an integral part of Toronto, ON's music scene for over a decade. Coinciding with a bad breakup for singer/songwriter Brent Jackson, latest album Grievances possesses a sense of sincerity and morose heaviness that blends with the smooth, but upbeat harmonies that carry the album along with the utmost fluidity. However, Jackson states, "Grievances is not a 'breakup record.' Instead, it's a musical examination of universal human pathos in all its forms." The trio recorded in Montreal with producers Gus Van Go and Werner F (Hollerado, the Stills). The result is ten tracks of intricate rock pop that remain sonically consistent with the band's past work (notably 2009's Another Link in the Chain). Second track "Futurists" is the most diverse of the bunch; it's an upbeat song with a heavy drum and guitar presence accompanying Jackson's signature high croon. There's an emphasis on sonic ambience within Grievances that brings to mind early Radiohead and Minus the Bear. Interestingly, the album doesn't follow an arc and none of the songs are greater than others. Instead, the album is consistent from the first track to the last, leaving room for intricate hook changes and clever riffs hidden within their textured sound.