Sunshower

Album Review

At first glance, Jupiter One appeared to be yet another in a succession of dancey, Strokes-influenced New York City rock bands that filled Williamsburg and Lower East Side clubs seven nights a week during the late aughts. A closer listen to the group's sophomore effort, Sunshower, however, reveals a group that absorbed a dizzying array of influences and incorporated them into a distinctive, alternately celebratory and melancholy sound. The first track, "Volcano," opens with a disco-era synthesizer squiggle that immediately gives way to a riff reminiscent of the Who's "Substitute" before sliding into a slinky yet punky reggae groove which would have made the Clash smile. "Made in a Day"'s peppy beat splits the difference between Luna/Feelies-style early-'90s college rock and the pogo-ing ska of the English Beat, while the melodic bass and vocal harmonies of "Strange Teacher" make it sound like a Beatles' Abbey Road outtake. Despite the spot-the-influences nature of much of the material, however, the album never sounds disjointed. Jupiter One has a good handle on arranging and an easy way with a melody that ties everything together, making Sunshower an engaging and diverse listen.