Nerves Junior

#1 Nerves Junior – As Bright As Your Night Light
It’s a bit scary to see a band release this fully realized masterpiece so early in their career. Scary in the sense that they might fall into the same sophomore slump that has plagued nearly every promising act of the past decade (the list is rather long). What gives me hope that Nerves Junior won’t ensnare themselves in this self-fulfilling prophecy, is the fact that they are very aware of themselves and don’t let their own sound suffocate them, but instead use it as a vehicle for the “mapping of countries yet to come”. Regardless of their future endeavors, As Bright As Your Night Light is timeless — a template for those to follow and never quite replicate. - Pretty Much Amazing

#1 Nerves Junior – As Bright As Your Night Light
It’s a bit scary to see a band release this fully realized masterpiece so early in their career. Scary in the sense that they might fall into the same sophomore slump that has plagued nearly every promising act of the past decade (the list is rather long). What gives me hope that Nerves Junior won’t ensnare themselves in this self-fulfilling prophecy, is the fact that they are very aware of themselves and don’t let their own sound suffocate them, but instead use it as a vehicle for the “mapping of countries yet to come”. Regardless of their future endeavors, As Bright As Your Night Light is timeless — a template for those to follow and never quite replicate. - Pretty Much Amazing

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When looking for the city's new indie class, make your first stop the atmospheric, expansive sounds of this two-year-old quintet. While many bands that attempt this sound fall into third-rate Kid A territory, Nerves Junior- singer Cory Wayne, guitarist Stuart Phelps, multi-instrumentalist Christopher Snow, bassist Hunter B. Rose and drummer Zackary O'Renich-plunge experimental depths while still delivering singalong pop hooks. For their debut album, As Bright As Your Night Light, released this fall, the crew teamed up with hometown super-producer Kevin Ratterman (drummer for Louisville rock group Wax Fang and frequent My Morning Jacket collaborator), set up in his studio, The Funeral Home (a real one!), and undertook a sonic excursion that's hard to match- anywhere. "They have such an advantage because they want it so bad," says Ratterman. "Their band is their life- everything depends on it. Their music is sometimes fun and sometimes ridiculously beautiful and at times you want to run through the streets mad with fire." - Nylon Magazine

page 129
When looking for the city's new indie class, make your first stop the atmospheric, expansive sounds of this two-year-old quintet. While many bands that attempt this sound fall into third-rate Kid A territory, Nerves Junior- singer Cory Wayne, guitarist Stuart Phelps, multi-instrumentalist Christopher Snow, bassist Hunter B. Rose and drummer Zackary O'Renich-plunge experimental depths while still delivering singalong pop hooks. For their debut album, As Bright As Your Night Light, released this fall, the crew teamed up with hometown super-producer Kevin Ratterman (drummer for Louisville rock group Wax Fang and frequent My Morning Jacket collaborator), set up in his studio, The Funeral Home (a real one!), and undertook a sonic excursion that's hard to match- anywhere. "They have such an advantage because they want it so bad," says Ratterman. "Their band is their life- everything depends on it. Their music is sometimes fun and sometimes ridiculously beautiful and at times you want to run through the streets mad with fire." - Nylon Magazine

It’s no surprise that the five-piece Louisville, Kentucky band Nerves Junior lists Animal Collective as one of their biggest influences. Their music can definitely be described with the same “psychedelic” and “electronic” tags. We’d venture to say, though, that Nerves Junior’s debut full-length As Bright As Your Night Light is a bit more rock, and its spooky hooks make for a great October album. Released just last month, As Bright As Your Night Light has already earned the band mega-praise, and we predict it will end up on many “best of” lists at the end of the year. - The Wild Honey Pie

It’s no surprise that the five-piece Louisville, Kentucky band Nerves Junior lists Animal Collective as one of their biggest influences. Their music can definitely be described with the same “psychedelic” and “electronic” tags. We’d venture to say, though, that Nerves Junior’s debut full-length As Bright As Your Night Light is a bit more rock, and its spooky hooks make for a great October album. Released just last month, As Bright As Your Night Light has already earned the band mega-praise, and we predict it will end up on many “best of” lists at the end of the year. - The Wild Honey Pie

As music writers, we're used to writing hyperbole, but here's one understatement: The annual CMJ music fest can be overwhelming. From all the official acts, unofficial parties and random stuff in general you'll run into, there's nothing quite so daunting as trying to plan your trek through the week.

That's why we're here. Below you'll find our top 15 CMJ shows. Most are unofficial, and it would be impossible to catch them all - though a lot of them are in the same neighborhood and you could walk back and forth to/from. We've also included a mix of free and not-so-free picks - the ticket prices shown reflect advanced buys.

What'd we miss? Tell us in the comments how bad we are at music!

Consequence of Sound October Party, Southpaw, $7: Miniature Tigers, The Stone Foxes, Mr. Dream, Is Tropical, Pujol, Arms, Nerves Junior, Bosco Delrey - NBC New York

As music writers, we're used to writing hyperbole, but here's one understatement: The annual CMJ music fest can be overwhelming. From all the official acts, unofficial parties and random stuff in general you'll run into, there's nothing quite so daunting as trying to plan your trek through the week.

That's why we're here. Below you'll find our top 15 CMJ shows. Most are unofficial, and it would be impossible to catch them all - though a lot of them are in the same neighborhood and you could walk back and forth to/from. We've also included a mix of free and not-so-free picks - the ticket prices shown reflect advanced buys.

What'd we miss? Tell us in the comments how bad we are at music!

Consequence of Sound October Party, Southpaw, $7: Miniature Tigers, The Stone Foxes, Mr. Dream, Is Tropical, Pujol, Arms, Nerves Junior, Bosco Delrey - NBC New York

1pm: We Listen For You CMJ Party w/ ARMS, Guards, The Pass, Parlovr, Nerves Junior, Headless Horseman - Free Wiliamsburg

1pm: We Listen For You CMJ Party w/ ARMS, Guards, The Pass, Parlovr, Nerves Junior, Headless Horseman - Free Wiliamsburg

Top 10 song of 2011 - Pretty Much Amazing

Top 10 song of 2011 - Pretty Much Amazing

Though some would argue the contrary, Louisville’s “indie rock” (whatever that is) scene can come off as a stridently dichotomous entity. On one end of the spectrum, the city is known for its prodigal sons of radio-ready anthems a la My Morning Jacket, Bonnie Prince Billy, etc. On the other, pupils in the Slint and Rodan school keep the flame of fringe alive – excellent acts like Nzambi, Phantom Family Halo, R. Keenan Lawler, and Softcheque who concoct boundary-decimating music that sometimes proves too challenging for the fried attention spans of the digital age sect. Very few artists have found the perfect median between experimental exploration and pop accessibility, and none have captured it with the panache that Nerves Junior has on their debut As Bright As Your Night Light.

The feat is particularly impressive as Nerves Junior is a young band still rife with potential. Less than two years old, all in their early 20s, Nerves Junior is a five piece who found a kinship by sharing a love for weird retro garage rock, crystalline pop songwriting, Brit-style bombast, and racks of analog gear. Let’s get comparisons out of the way because that’s what reviewers do, right? Deerhunter. Women. Lower Dens. And… I’m gonna say… I don’t wanna say it but it’s true… Radiohead. Usually when you see that name dropped, it’s frown town, indicative of some sort of archetypal shitty bar band that just happened to pick up a synth or a Boss Dr. Sampler. The Onion nailed that phenomenon perfectly a couple years ago. But when you see Stuart Phelps grinds his axe through the Masonic third degree on stage, and hear those razor sharp angular tones coupled with an unyielding sense of sonic adventurism, it’s not an unfair comparison. That’s just on the surface, of course. Viscerally, Nerves Junior are distinct; a formidable being that exited the womb with a fully formed musical identity.

Their nine-song debut offers an expansive, eclectic collection of electronic-laden, off-kilter pop with a hook-heavy edge and dense atmosphere, equally psychedelic and concise. Dreamy, ambient meditations and waves of soft acoustic guitar on the well-crafted “Get Left in the Dark” and the intimate down-the-rabbit-hole dirge of “Downtown Lament” represent one end of the group’s repertoire, while the dark analog stomp and driving mid-tempo of “Kale” and soaring, intricate chorus of “Swimmer’s Ear” showcases the group at their most expansive. Nerves Junior’s flawless meshing of airborne, resplendent textures and infectious choruses hit a fever pitch on songs like “In Absentia” and the aquatic, cathartic “Champagne & Peaches.” The title track suggests the grandeur of a stadium-ready chant, yet the tribal drumming and claustrophobic, monolithic wall of fuzz and reverb launches the song, and the album’s mid-section, somewhere wholly otherworldly.

Without compromise and immune to any and all trend-riding, Nerves Junior are paving their own path with a distinct spin on both the twilight fringes of post-punk electro futurism and denser-than-lead dream pop gravitas. Nerves Junior is a transcendent beast, one that can appeal to elitist niche ears as well as casual listeners. As Bright As Your Night‘s melodic sophistication and vast sonic palette is major league in every facet. Don’t say you haven’t been warned. - The Decibel Tolls

Though some would argue the contrary, Louisville’s “indie rock” (whatever that is) scene can come off as a stridently dichotomous entity. On one end of the spectrum, the city is known for its prodigal sons of radio-ready anthems a la My Morning Jacket, Bonnie Prince Billy, etc. On the other, pupils in the Slint and Rodan school keep the flame of fringe alive – excellent acts like Nzambi, Phantom Family Halo, R. Keenan Lawler, and Softcheque who concoct boundary-decimating music that sometimes proves too challenging for the fried attention spans of the digital age sect. Very few artists have found the perfect median between experimental exploration and pop accessibility, and none have captured it with the panache that Nerves Junior has on their debut As Bright As Your Night Light.

The feat is particularly impressive as Nerves Junior is a young band still rife with potential. Less than two years old, all in their early 20s, Nerves Junior is a five piece who found a kinship by sharing a love for weird retro garage rock, crystalline pop songwriting, Brit-style bombast, and racks of analog gear. Let’s get comparisons out of the way because that’s what reviewers do, right? Deerhunter. Women. Lower Dens. And… I’m gonna say… I don’t wanna say it but it’s true… Radiohead. Usually when you see that name dropped, it’s frown town, indicative of some sort of archetypal shitty bar band that just happened to pick up a synth or a Boss Dr. Sampler. The Onion nailed that phenomenon perfectly a couple years ago. But when you see Stuart Phelps grinds his axe through the Masonic third degree on stage, and hear those razor sharp angular tones coupled with an unyielding sense of sonic adventurism, it’s not an unfair comparison. That’s just on the surface, of course. Viscerally, Nerves Junior are distinct; a formidable being that exited the womb with a fully formed musical identity.

Their nine-song debut offers an expansive, eclectic collection of electronic-laden, off-kilter pop with a hook-heavy edge and dense atmosphere, equally psychedelic and concise. Dreamy, ambient meditations and waves of soft acoustic guitar on the well-crafted “Get Left in the Dark” and the intimate down-the-rabbit-hole dirge of “Downtown Lament” represent one end of the group’s repertoire, while the dark analog stomp and driving mid-tempo of “Kale” and soaring, intricate chorus of “Swimmer’s Ear” showcases the group at their most expansive. Nerves Junior’s flawless meshing of airborne, resplendent textures and infectious choruses hit a fever pitch on songs like “In Absentia” and the aquatic, cathartic “Champagne & Peaches.” The title track suggests the grandeur of a stadium-ready chant, yet the tribal drumming and claustrophobic, monolithic wall of fuzz and reverb launches the song, and the album’s mid-section, somewhere wholly otherworldly.

Without compromise and immune to any and all trend-riding, Nerves Junior are paving their own path with a distinct spin on both the twilight fringes of post-punk electro futurism and denser-than-lead dream pop gravitas. Nerves Junior is a transcendent beast, one that can appeal to elitist niche ears as well as casual listeners. As Bright As Your Night‘s melodic sophistication and vast sonic palette is major league in every facet. Don’t say you haven’t been warned. - The Decibel Tolls

As a lifelong Radiohead fan I don’t say this lightly: this band reminds me of Ok Computer era Radiohead, the era which defined the unique sound that Radiohead is known for.

Ok, before other Radiohead fans think I have gone too far, no they are not better than Radiohead, but they are very, very good. The cool and modern beats of the tracks are enhanced with Johnny Greenwood style guitar rifts that shred and weave new meaning to the words. Lyrics such as “plastics that last forever is a better lullaby,” harken the dilemma that set the tone for Ok Computer– a modern person navigating their humanity in an increasingly digital age.

This is not to say that the album is a rip from Radiohead, no, rather it is clear the influence is there, but it doesn’t overshadow the originality of Nerves Junior’s own musical style.

Not one track on their debut album, As Bright As Your Nightlight, disappoints and I look forward to them touring the Bay Area soon… - San Francisco Critic

As a lifelong Radiohead fan I don’t say this lightly: this band reminds me of Ok Computer era Radiohead, the era which defined the unique sound that Radiohead is known for.

Ok, before other Radiohead fans think I have gone too far, no they are not better than Radiohead, but they are very, very good. The cool and modern beats of the tracks are enhanced with Johnny Greenwood style guitar rifts that shred and weave new meaning to the words. Lyrics such as “plastics that last forever is a better lullaby,” harken the dilemma that set the tone for Ok Computer– a modern person navigating their humanity in an increasingly digital age.

This is not to say that the album is a rip from Radiohead, no, rather it is clear the influence is there, but it doesn’t overshadow the originality of Nerves Junior’s own musical style.

Not one track on their debut album, As Bright As Your Nightlight, disappoints and I look forward to them touring the Bay Area soon… - San Francisco Critic

A+ | 9.6.11 | sonaBLAST | Stream | Mog | MP3

“Writing has nothing to do with meaning. It has to do with land surveying and cartography, including the mapping of countries yet to come.” Now what the hell does this maxim of famed post-modern thinker Gilles Deleuze have to do with a quintet of post-rockers from Louisville, Kentucky? Well in the case of their debut Bright as Your Night Light – everything and so much more.

Ladies and gentleman, this is what an album should sound like in 2011. The operative word here being album; a structured setting for music to embody and permeate. This structure, or in Deleuzian terms “land surveying and cartography”, is very cleverly constructed inside that part of your brain that deciphers what’s “nice” and what’s life-altering. If opening track “Champagne and Peaches” doesn’t register in the latter part of your cerebrum and sends chills down your spine, then you may want to reboot your CPU. Cory Wayne’s ethereal yet sardonic pipes teleport you to some strange beautiful place where all those sub-conscious sounds you heard while floating in utero. They are not afraid to play Jenga with a crystalline pop palace; constantly reconfiguring the lines of flight darting across their musical radars without losing the beat they targeted to begin with.

The title track, which we streamed from the very beginning, is easily one of the best pop songs to surface this year. Besides the intricate and intense chorus, they know how to play the quiet loud game better, in their second year of existence, than most bands could ever hope to. The symmetry displayed between the opening bars (lo-fi almost 8K worth of bass sound) and the closing coda (hi-fi bass guitar with drive) shows immeasurable creativity in a song that’s bursting at the gills with it.

“Nails to Scratch With” commences with a dizzying oscillating synth that’s quickly overtaken by a chunky blues-rock guitar and pounding kickdrum. A petulant and scratchy Wayne pushes the song in an almost Latin samba direction, all while retaining the pulsing energy that guitarists Stuart Phelps and Chris Snow awaken through the last half of the song. They could have predictably ridden this sugar high throughout the rest of their debut, but fortunately chose to show their saccharine sides on “Get Left in the Dark”. Wayne can take rather ordinary lines like “I thought I saw you standing with a green candle in your hand” and “I’m looking logical surfaces”, unravel the subliminal wordplay and turn them into Shakespearean sonnets.

For anyone who has gone on a Vitamin A binge, “Kale” might be your anthem. Sure his references to the bad taste in his mouth and pouring tears might refer to Brassica oleracea, but after withstanding the torrential downpour of thrashing axes toward the end of the song, it might have a lot more to do with the bland state of today’s recycled pop music.

If any of you share the incurable guilty pleasure of adoring The Eagles, actually scratch that…, if you dig down-and-out punch-drunk ballads in general, “Downtown Lament” will surely find its way into many a chick flick in coming years. Amidst the cozy lap steel and muffled toms you will surely ask yourself, “How can I feel so high about being so low?”. Wayne reassures us by repeating, “Don’t be afraid” with increasing intensity until this digital opus concludes.

It’s a bit scary to see a band release this fully realized masterpiece so early in their career. Scary in the sense that they might fall into the same sophomore slump that has plagued nearly every promising act of the past decade (the list is rather long). What gives me hope that they won’t ensnare themselves in this self-fulfilling prophecy is the fact that they are very aware of themselves and don’t let their own sound suffocate them, but instead use it as a vehicle for the “mapping of countries yet to come”. Regardless of their future endeavors, this one is timeless — a template for those to follow and never quite replicate. - Pretty Much Amazing

A+ | 9.6.11 | sonaBLAST | Stream | Mog | MP3

“Writing has nothing to do with meaning. It has to do with land surveying and cartography, including the mapping of countries yet to come.” Now what the hell does this maxim of famed post-modern thinker Gilles Deleuze have to do with a quintet of post-rockers from Louisville, Kentucky? Well in the case of their debut Bright as Your Night Light – everything and so much more.

Ladies and gentleman, this is what an album should sound like in 2011. The operative word here being album; a structured setting for music to embody and permeate. This structure, or in Deleuzian terms “land surveying and cartography”, is very cleverly constructed inside that part of your brain that deciphers what’s “nice” and what’s life-altering. If opening track “Champagne and Peaches” doesn’t register in the latter part of your cerebrum and sends chills down your spine, then you may want to reboot your CPU. Cory Wayne’s ethereal yet sardonic pipes teleport you to some strange beautiful place where all those sub-conscious sounds you heard while floating in utero. They are not afraid to play Jenga with a crystalline pop palace; constantly reconfiguring the lines of flight darting across their musical radars without losing the beat they targeted to begin with.

The title track, which we streamed from the very beginning, is easily one of the best pop songs to surface this year. Besides the intricate and intense chorus, they know how to play the quiet loud game better, in their second year of existence, than most bands could ever hope to. The symmetry displayed between the opening bars (lo-fi almost 8K worth of bass sound) and the closing coda (hi-fi bass guitar with drive) shows immeasurable creativity in a song that’s bursting at the gills with it.

“Nails to Scratch With” commences with a dizzying oscillating synth that’s quickly overtaken by a chunky blues-rock guitar and pounding kickdrum. A petulant and scratchy Wayne pushes the song in an almost Latin samba direction, all while retaining the pulsing energy that guitarists Stuart Phelps and Chris Snow awaken through the last half of the song. They could have predictably ridden this sugar high throughout the rest of their debut, but fortunately chose to show their saccharine sides on “Get Left in the Dark”. Wayne can take rather ordinary lines like “I thought I saw you standing with a green candle in your hand” and “I’m looking logical surfaces”, unravel the subliminal wordplay and turn them into Shakespearean sonnets.

For anyone who has gone on a Vitamin A binge, “Kale” might be your anthem. Sure his references to the bad taste in his mouth and pouring tears might refer to Brassica oleracea, but after withstanding the torrential downpour of thrashing axes toward the end of the song, it might have a lot more to do with the bland state of today’s recycled pop music.

If any of you share the incurable guilty pleasure of adoring The Eagles, actually scratch that…, if you dig down-and-out punch-drunk ballads in general, “Downtown Lament” will surely find its way into many a chick flick in coming years. Amidst the cozy lap steel and muffled toms you will surely ask yourself, “How can I feel so high about being so low?”. Wayne reassures us by repeating, “Don’t be afraid” with increasing intensity until this digital opus concludes.

It’s a bit scary to see a band release this fully realized masterpiece so early in their career. Scary in the sense that they might fall into the same sophomore slump that has plagued nearly every promising act of the past decade (the list is rather long). What gives me hope that they won’t ensnare themselves in this self-fulfilling prophecy is the fact that they are very aware of themselves and don’t let their own sound suffocate them, but instead use it as a vehicle for the “mapping of countries yet to come”. Regardless of their future endeavors, this one is timeless — a template for those to follow and never quite replicate. - Pretty Much Amazing

Sometimes labeling a band ‘One To Watch’ can be a bit of a gamble. They might only have a promising EP, or a mighty good single. Not so with Nerves Junior: we’ve got a preview copy of their debut album, and it’s killer. The album, called “As Bright As Your Night Light”, isn’t out until September 6th, but, so you don’t have to just take my word for it, we can share two tracks with you right now.

One of them is “As Bright As Your Night Light”, a worthy title track. It opens with a bobbing synth melody and some teasing, slyly self-confident lyrics ["Your purse on the counter-top, your heels tapping the cabinet doors. Yeah, what do we need anybody else for?"] before an absolutely immense chorus comes crashing in. Driven by thick electronics and an unconventional drum beat that tumbles down before being whisked back up by a hi-hat snap, it’s a real thrill the first time this blast of noise kicks in. And it’s still a thrill the second time it kicks in: Nerves Junior repeat the song’s opening trick when all but the vocals and that original synth line drop out around the 1:50 mark until, of course, the chorus thumps in again. I’m always weak for a song that spoils me by repeating it’s big moment [Radiohead's "Let Down" and The Strokes' "Under Cover Of Darkness", to name a couple], and “As Bright As Your Night Light” is no exception.

As strong as that track is, “Kale” is a better showcase of the multifaceted nature of Nerves Junior’s sound. Deep electronics and occasionally skittish beats provide the meat of the track, and reverberating guitars hover over the top of the mix. Late on, though, the lead guitar breaks free for a soaring solo, and suddenly it’s as if you’re listening to Johnny Greenwood 15 years ago.

So you should be excited for Nerves Junior’s debut album. Stream “As Bright As Your Night Light” and “Kale” below, and check back for a full review when the album drops on Sonablast Records on September 6th. Safe to say it’s quite good. - Listen Before You Buy

Sometimes labeling a band ‘One To Watch’ can be a bit of a gamble. They might only have a promising EP, or a mighty good single. Not so with Nerves Junior: we’ve got a preview copy of their debut album, and it’s killer. The album, called “As Bright As Your Night Light”, isn’t out until September 6th, but, so you don’t have to just take my word for it, we can share two tracks with you right now.

One of them is “As Bright As Your Night Light”, a worthy title track. It opens with a bobbing synth melody and some teasing, slyly self-confident lyrics ["Your purse on the counter-top, your heels tapping the cabinet doors. Yeah, what do we need anybody else for?"] before an absolutely immense chorus comes crashing in. Driven by thick electronics and an unconventional drum beat that tumbles down before being whisked back up by a hi-hat snap, it’s a real thrill the first time this blast of noise kicks in. And it’s still a thrill the second time it kicks in: Nerves Junior repeat the song’s opening trick when all but the vocals and that original synth line drop out around the 1:50 mark until, of course, the chorus thumps in again. I’m always weak for a song that spoils me by repeating it’s big moment [Radiohead's "Let Down" and The Strokes' "Under Cover Of Darkness", to name a couple], and “As Bright As Your Night Light” is no exception.

As strong as that track is, “Kale” is a better showcase of the multifaceted nature of Nerves Junior’s sound. Deep electronics and occasionally skittish beats provide the meat of the track, and reverberating guitars hover over the top of the mix. Late on, though, the lead guitar breaks free for a soaring solo, and suddenly it’s as if you’re listening to Johnny Greenwood 15 years ago.

So you should be excited for Nerves Junior’s debut album. Stream “As Bright As Your Night Light” and “Kale” below, and check back for a full review when the album drops on Sonablast Records on September 6th. Safe to say it’s quite good. - Listen Before You Buy

“In Absentia” is typically a legal term for a trial conducted without the defendant in the courtroom. The song bearing that same name by Louisville quartet Nerves Junior presents nothing of the sort, though, because behind the surface of its lethargic tempo lies the undeniable presence of the band’s four members, each playing an equally important role. Through intricate layering of woozy vocals, intricate rhythms, and warbled guitars, the band actively fights to prove the case for their brand of pop-structured heavy tunes, and the foursome continues to do so throughout the entirety of their entrancing debut, As Bright As Your Night Light. The verdict? Impressive. And not guilty of regurgitating their influences, but instead combining them into something novel.

Each song on this album is a lesson in how to push basic instruments to their creative threshold, as no two songs sound remotely alike. The unfurling of surprise after surprise – like Radiohead vibes on opener “Champagne & Peaches” transitioning into megaphone distorted, nearly shouting vocals on grinding “Swimmers Ear”, and so forth – makes for a truly compelling listening experience. The group takes a swing at toned-down hypnotics, too – backing off of the intensity of the first third of the album – pulling off the lengthy, aforementioned “In Absentia” and “Get Left In The Dark”. One ventures into a soundscape based heavy reverb and wandering guitars, the other goes for electronic beats and immense bass, but they both go off without a hitch. The definite standout of As Bright As Your Night Light, however, is the track that shares its name – the band’s first mastered song that popped up on Bandcamp earlier in the summer. Its driving bass line and terse vocals that swell into a psychedelic swirl and one catchy chorus are, quite frankly, irresistible. Then again, though, the entire album is.

Categorizing As Bright As Your Night Light may be a fruitless exercise, as it dabbles in a wide variety of sonic textures and layering combinations, transcending all generic conventions. That’s not to say the record isn’t cohesive, though, as the quality and overall aura of the songs are seamless – so much so that when singer Cory Wayne mumbles “I can’t shake it all,” one can’t listen to this solid debut once and disagree. - Consequence of Sound

“In Absentia” is typically a legal term for a trial conducted without the defendant in the courtroom. The song bearing that same name by Louisville quartet Nerves Junior presents nothing of the sort, though, because behind the surface of its lethargic tempo lies the undeniable presence of the band’s four members, each playing an equally important role. Through intricate layering of woozy vocals, intricate rhythms, and warbled guitars, the band actively fights to prove the case for their brand of pop-structured heavy tunes, and the foursome continues to do so throughout the entirety of their entrancing debut, As Bright As Your Night Light. The verdict? Impressive. And not guilty of regurgitating their influences, but instead combining them into something novel.

Each song on this album is a lesson in how to push basic instruments to their creative threshold, as no two songs sound remotely alike. The unfurling of surprise after surprise – like Radiohead vibes on opener “Champagne & Peaches” transitioning into megaphone distorted, nearly shouting vocals on grinding “Swimmers Ear”, and so forth – makes for a truly compelling listening experience. The group takes a swing at toned-down hypnotics, too – backing off of the intensity of the first third of the album – pulling off the lengthy, aforementioned “In Absentia” and “Get Left In The Dark”. One ventures into a soundscape based heavy reverb and wandering guitars, the other goes for electronic beats and immense bass, but they both go off without a hitch. The definite standout of As Bright As Your Night Light, however, is the track that shares its name – the band’s first mastered song that popped up on Bandcamp earlier in the summer. Its driving bass line and terse vocals that swell into a psychedelic swirl and one catchy chorus are, quite frankly, irresistible. Then again, though, the entire album is.

Categorizing As Bright As Your Night Light may be a fruitless exercise, as it dabbles in a wide variety of sonic textures and layering combinations, transcending all generic conventions. That’s not to say the record isn’t cohesive, though, as the quality and overall aura of the songs are seamless – so much so that when singer Cory Wayne mumbles “I can’t shake it all,” one can’t listen to this solid debut once and disagree. - Consequence of Sound

It's been over a year since I saw Nerves Junior open for Cults at Zanzabar in Louisville. I immediately asked for some tracks to post on WLFY because the live show was unlike anything I had ever seen or heard. Unfortunately they didn't have anything recorded and said something would be available soon. Weeks turned into months and I moved away from Louisville to Los Angeles. Today, the best record store in America, Ear X-Tacy, posted on twitter a link to listen to Nerves Junior's first recorded track.

"As Bright As Your Night Light" is a track without any concrete comparisons. Some of the electronics feel like Nine Inch Nails or Radiohead, but the overall sound of the track doesn't quite fit into any specific genre or comparisons with other bands. For me, that makes this track all the more special as it's captured the same jaw on the floor reaction I had to their live show. The drums that come in on the track are large and imaginative, the electronics are slick and unique, and the vocals feel like the essence of cool (calm and in control). My favorite part of the song comes at the 1:50 mark where the thick chorus drops off and the lead singer says: "Sending signals, only you and I know/flip your hair if the answer is no/crack your knuckles/blink three times/grab your coat and I'll grab mine". With that, the track explodes back into action, with huge drums and out of space keys rattling around the headphones. I've been mesmerized by their live show, this track proves they can write an infectious song, now it's time for them to tackle a full length record. - We Listen For You

It's been over a year since I saw Nerves Junior open for Cults at Zanzabar in Louisville. I immediately asked for some tracks to post on WLFY because the live show was unlike anything I had ever seen or heard. Unfortunately they didn't have anything recorded and said something would be available soon. Weeks turned into months and I moved away from Louisville to Los Angeles. Today, the best record store in America, Ear X-Tacy, posted on twitter a link to listen to Nerves Junior's first recorded track.

"As Bright As Your Night Light" is a track without any concrete comparisons. Some of the electronics feel like Nine Inch Nails or Radiohead, but the overall sound of the track doesn't quite fit into any specific genre or comparisons with other bands. For me, that makes this track all the more special as it's captured the same jaw on the floor reaction I had to their live show. The drums that come in on the track are large and imaginative, the electronics are slick and unique, and the vocals feel like the essence of cool (calm and in control). My favorite part of the song comes at the 1:50 mark where the thick chorus drops off and the lead singer says: "Sending signals, only you and I know/flip your hair if the answer is no/crack your knuckles/blink three times/grab your coat and I'll grab mine". With that, the track explodes back into action, with huge drums and out of space keys rattling around the headphones. I've been mesmerized by their live show, this track proves they can write an infectious song, now it's time for them to tackle a full length record. - We Listen For You