JR JR (fka Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.) is a Detroit-based electropop duo. After three records on Warner Bros., Invocations / Conversations is the debut release on their new label, Love is EZ Records. Invocations was recorded in 2016 with their touring bandmates, Conversations is the followup and second disc to this now double album. Overall, the record is indebted to AM Pop and festival-ready psychedelia — Steely Dan and ELO mixed with MGMT and Ra Ra Riot. Invocations starts with “Day In, Day Out”, Casio bleeps and bloops and gently strummed guitar with sub-bass flourishes. “Wild Child” starts at a racing BPM, arpeggiated keys and sugary backing vocals. On Conversations, “Low” is a downtempo shuffler with giddy electronic chords and a kitchen sink chorus (listen for the vocoder, record brake pitchdowns, and cheers), “Big Bear Mountain” is a McCartney-esque piano ballad. Invocations is pressed on clear coke bottle colored vinyl, Conversations is on clear turquoise. The albums are packaged individually in a clear wallet, and include inner sleeves with lyrics. This pressing is a limited edition of 1000.

• any special features / extras
• double vinyl pressing. Invocations on coke bottle clear vinyl, Conversations on clear turquoise vinyl
• limited to 1000 copies
• music label: Love is EZ 2019

reviewed by OCTAN RACING 06/2019