Velvet
Issue #29
The Juggernaut (Double Decker Bus)
By Bill Copeland
Published: September 1st, 2006 | 12:00am
With a big, fun pop sound that seldom loses steam, Velvet just may make an impression on the national scene with The Juggernaut.
Vocalist-bassist Jane Francis has a commanding voice that has “hit single” written all over it. She and guitarist Jay Manley make "Winner" true to its title, singing majestically over the driving melodic guitar and bombastic rhythm section. The band slows things down a bit on the title track, a ballad that finds Francis showcasing her vocal prowess while Manley executes tasteful pop-melodic hooks on his guitar. "Summer Interstate" features peppy synth melodies while "Girl Fan" is infused with an early-1980 Gary Numan–inspired keyboard sound.
Francis has an honest, introspective approach to songwriting. There is a distinct Aimee Mann influence flowing through her subconscious. "This is for You" questions a lover on what he’s really thinking when daydreaming, and in it, Francis sounds like she doesn’t look forward to his answer. As a guitarist, Manley lays down a lot of thick rhythms, his playing always melodic and challenging as he fits solos and breaks into tight spaces before switching back to rhythm.
Most of this sophomore effort was recorded in one day and produced by Mitch Easter in his popular studio Thee Fidelitorium. The Juggernaut’s sonic texture and clarity sail out of the speakers with a polished sound.
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