Rip Junior - Carriage House Demo

Rip Junior

Carriage House Demo
self-released; 2016

3.6 out of 5

By Santiago Garcia
​

The band Rip Junior is an alternative punk/grunge band from Jacksonville, Florida, that formed earlier this year. The band had a burst of immediate chemistry, and the group worked together throughout 2016 and recorded their first album, Carriage House Demo. It is an album that the band likes to call grunk, influenced by the sounds of grunge with a very strong punk feel to it. This album is fast, it’s heavy, and it is straightforward punk rock that’ll make you forget what DJ is. 

This album starts out with the track “Carriage House” and gives us listeners a nice, immediate look into what the sound of this album is all about. The song starts out with a very fast pace, a fast paced guitar-led riff that sounds like those fun, late ’90’s and ’00s punk rock bands. When the vocals come in, we are introduced to a really cool contrast of sounds. The voice of the singer is different than the guitars; it’s slow and monotone and sounds like the punk rock singers from England in the ‘80s. The lyrics and punk rock like, this track is an ode to outkast and loners out there. The cymbal-heavy drums keep the high-tempo up and make this a really fun album to listen to. There’s a nice bridge led by the guitar at the end of this track that helps transition onto the next song. 

The next song “Instant Pleasure” has a nice, fast, heavy intro like the last but the pace and tempo quickly slow down. This track has a more mellow rhythm, but the same loud and in-your-face sounds. This song, although somewhat slower, feels more emotional. It’s a classic punk rock ode about frustration and failure. The protagonist sings about how he lost his job, how things are difficult and how he just wants to be left alone! 

This track has great buildup during the chorus, and the drums once again play an important role. It eventually culminates with a badass guitar solo. The guitar shreds through the last seconds of the song, and really highlights the musical talent of all these guys. The drums, bass, and guitars all play an equally critical part in this album. 

The next song “Social Experiment” has a powerful and heavy bass line. The vocals remain the main focus, but they are still subdued and somewhat monotone. Throughout Carriage House Demo, it’s all about the energy of the guitars, bass, drums, and the high-hats that are constantly smashing through the album. The voice is a great complement, and tells listeners a great story, but the energy, emotion,and punk-rock frustration all come from the badass instruments.  

​The last song of the album “Sundried” has a different, more melodic sound. The guitar chords and riffs are fun and somewhat dance-y. This track is more uptempo, and feels less dark than the others. It’s more of a rock song with a cool story. It is a nice touch to the album, and helps showcase the musical talents that these guys put together to produce the Carriage House

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