The Junior League "Smile Shoot Smile"

Hailing from St Augustine, Fla., The Junior League aka Joe Adragna once again has delivered some pop goodness to follow up his debut “Catchy”. The new album has plenty of sharp pop craft along the lines of REM jangle and The Beatles, with a touch of Toad The Wet Sprocket. Joe is more than a one man band here, as the opener “Everybody Loves Me (But You)” has much in common with Buffalo Springfield and Brian Wilson. The songs are cleanly produced and well written – “It’s The End” pumps up the volume in this traditional break up song with forceful guitar riffs. The melodic and mellow tunes do the best here, from “What I Am” to the sunny “Memories” remind me of Stealers Wheel in the baseline. The lower key songs “Sundress” and “What If I Am,” touches on adult contemporary pop. But it goes the other way as “Princess Stephanie” is true pop gem, with a soulful vocal and toe tapping chorus and “Hey, Pop Life” brings to mind The Ramones. Some deep lyrical work in “I Never Thought” refer to the struggle with letting go, as he sings “I never thought I’d be so tired..” Well, I don’t think I will grow tired of The Junior League anytime soon.