A few weeks ago, we premiered a track from Junius’s excellent new EP, Days of the Fallen Sun. This year will not only see the release of new tunes from the quartet (in just a few days, no less), but it also marks a celebratory occasion that typically calls for diamond jewelry. Our budget here at the Deciblog isn’t quite that extravagant, so instead we thought we’d let the band take over our Thursday mornings for the next two weeks. For this morning’s installment, frontman/guitarist Joseph E. Martinez and bassist Joel Munguia compiled the following eight records that according to them share one thing in common according to them: “We thought since this year marks our tenth anniversary, we would take a look back at music we were all listening to when we started Junius in 2004.”
Once you’ve scoured the tunes below, be sure to pre-order a copy of the band’s new EP here.
Joseph E. Martinez:
The Cure–Disintegration (1989)
We were all listening to this album heavily while working on our first EP [2004’s Forcing Out the Silence]. It was our atmospheric template for most of the early Junius songs. You can definitely hear it in “Hiding Knives”. The song “Disintegration” hits really hard for me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeWhUL7kS80
Year Of The Rabbit–Year Of The Rabbit (2003)
I’m a massive Failure fan and I was really into ON (Ken Andrews’ solo project), so when I heard he teamed up with members of Shiner and National Skyline, I was stoked. I was able to see them twice, the second time they opened for Thursday and they opened with “Plainsong” by The Cure. It was perfect. My favorite track is “Hunted”.
Thomas Newman–Road To Perdition OST (2002)
The movie was fantastic, but the soundtrack blew me away. I would keep the DVD’s menu screen on all night so I could listen to the piano riff from the track “Road to Chicago”… that melody just hangs between two richly dark and beautiful places.
Placebo–Sleeping With Ghosts (2003)
In 2003/2004, if you saw me riding the T from Stony Brook stop to Downtown Crossing, there is a 93% chance I was listening to this album. Black Market Music was such a great album that I didn’t think they could come close, but I was wrong. All tracks are killer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7V52kCW_vs
Joel Munguia:
Neurosis–A Sun That Never Sets (2001)
This album did and will always give me chills when listening. I had never heard “metal” like this before. The textures of it are unreal. Once you start the album, it feels wrong not to finish the entire thing. The accompanying DVD is a real treat too.
Helmet–Aftertaste (1997)
This was the first Helmet album I ever heard and I loved it right from the start. Heavy punk verses with huge washy Deftones-esque choruses. I’m sold. I can accurately air drum to this entire album. Definitely influenced how I play.
Failure–Fantastic Planet (1996)
This is an influential album for all of us in Junius. An unconventional experimental pop/prog album with 17 tracks? Badass. I admire Ken Andrews as a songwriter, lyricist, and musician. And Greg and Kellii are smart and innovative players as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4tFiF2dWfk
Pelican–Australasia (2003)
The way these four dudes play off each other is truly something special. The mountains that they build on this album are awe-inspiring. Some of the most badass riffage ever documented. Now after playing shows together a few times I can say they are some genuine dudes as well.
