JJ72 Archives - TURN UP THE VOLUME

Gone But Not Forgotten! Irish Passionate Rockers JJ72

Posted on January 20, 2022 by JL

Three big moments from great bands from the past

20 January 2022

Band: JJ72

Who: Passionate guitar pop trio from Dublin, led by tremendous voice
and songwriter Mark Greaney, who went solo for a while after the break-up,
started a new band in 2012 and is currently Head of Education at the British and
Irish Modern Music Institute. Former bassist Hilary Woods became a highly
intriguing and wayward singer-songwriter (check her 2 albums on Spotify).

Active: 1996–2006

The Irish made two LPs, two classics in my book: JJ72 (2000) and I To Sky (2002).
And they were a superb live band too (saw them several times).

Troubles with their record label that eventually refused to release their third
album (recorded in 2005 – where are the tapes?) led to the regrettable split.

Three top JJ72 moments…

– SNOW –

– FORMULAE-

– OCTOBER SWIMMING –

JJ72: History

Remember This Ace Album? Second Album ‘I TO SKY’ By Impassioned Irish Trio JJ72

Posted on October 15, 2019 by JL

Great, yet unsuccessful albums from the past…

15 October 2019

Artist: JJ72
Album: I To Sky
Released: 14 October 2012 / the band’s second and final LP
Note: All songs written by frontman Mark Greaney.
Sound; This Irish trio did what not many bands accomplished, making two towering lonplayers in a row and vanish in oblivion immediately afterward. The critics (and me) loved their burning intensity, youthful ardency and frontman
Greaney‘s high-quality songwriting skills. Influenced from Joy Division to Placebo this stupendous threesome couldn’t find and convince enough fans so that their
label wouldn’t have dumped them. What a terrible loss of an amazing band with
an amazing future!

ALL MUSIC wrote: “It would be wrong to view the album as an indication of a sophomore slump, because JJ72’s debut set the peg so high into the stratosphere. I to Sky is a rewarding
but difficult album that unleashes its charms over time. There’s no denying that atmosphere
has taken the lead over songwriting prowess, and one can’t help but think that JJ72 somehow got sidetracked on their journey to creating a second instant classic, but like the debut, the album leaves the listener clamoring for more of Greaney’s flights of fancy.”

Key tracks…

– FORMULAE –

– 7TH WAVE –