I know this was a lot cooler back when this cd was new, but here’s my review from last summer anyhow.

CD Review: Röyksopp: Junior
By Courtney Chu

Röyksopp describe themselves as “an electronic and chill-out music duo” hailing from Norway. While chilling out is not usually what I have in mind when I turn on electro music, Röyksopp’s new CD Junior does manage to successfully create a vibe that simultaneously makes you want to laze around and dance your heart out.

For those who haven’t heard of Röyksopp, it’s made up of Torbjørn Brundtland and Svein Berge, who have been making music together as Röyksopp since the late ‘90s. They’re one of those groups where all their hits sound the same, but you don’t particularly care because that sound is great. Junior is their third studio album, and while it falls short of spectacular, it certainly provides the lighthearted, happy, electro-pop music that kids love today (it’s damn good).

The first single off Junior titled “Happy Up Here” is a deliciously bubbly song that delivers everything its title promises. Their second single “The Girl And The Robot” featuring Robyn of early ‘90s fame (remember “Show Me Love”?) is equally banger — a song slightly reminiscent of Dead Or Alive’s “You Spin Me Round” but, like Robyn, reinvented with an electro twist. I really have to take a minute to give credit to Robyn’s ability to completely reinvent herself as an electro-pop artist and somehow end up featured on one of the hippest band’s CDs — especially since she was known primarily in her glory days as a MuchDance ’97-type artist. Furthermore, Röyksopp’s song with her is one of the best on the album.

Though the first two singles off the album are undoubtedly the most enjoyable, the others still rate high. Some of the songs that fall further to the chill side of Röyksopp rather than the electro side are a little emo for my taste. A good example of this is their song “Miss It So Much,” which sounds like a strange blend of college whiner-electro breakup music. I had to skip that track halfway through. Despite that one song, Junior is a good, maybe even great summer album.

I would definitely recommend giving it a listen on the beach, or picking it up for your next party. Electronic chill-out. I’m starting to like the sound of that.