Review: Janus – ‘Red Right Return’ (re-release)

Posted: September 22nd, 2009
Contributed By: Nick

	Purchase @ iTunes Release Date: November 18, 2008
	Janus is: David Scotney (Vocals) Mike Tyranski (Guitar / Programming) Alan Quitman (Bass) Johnny Salazar (Drums)

Overview: For those of you itching for some quirky information on Janus, I can only offer you a few savory morsels. The band’s drummer Johnny Salazar used to perform with Relative Ash, a now defunct Chicago based act who released an album through Island/Def Jam in 2000 called ‘Our Time With You…’. To conclude this piss poor background information piece, Janus will re-release ‘Red Right Return‘ on September 22nd.

The Good: As you know in life there are certainties. You will eventually die. You will become prey to the IRS. The Cubs will not win a World Championship. Add to that list the fact that ‘Red Right Return‘ is good. Not Rex Grossman on his best day good, but more like the Bulls of the 1990′s good. Letting ‘Red Right Return‘ speak for itself, the album smashes into your life with the face-melting, fire-breathing trend of the audacious “Six Letters Sent”. The tune aces the depth test, thanks to a tandem of prog-esque spacey electronics and the vocal wizardry of vocalist David Scotney. Although “Six Letters Sent” wastes no time in proving his worth behind the mic, it is the first of many spine-splitting screams courtesy of Scotney, whose yell is one of the most catastrophic you have ever heard. Think 30 Seconds to Mars on a RedBull binge, and “Six Letters Sent” is the fruitful result. Get into the dreams of Evans Blue, and you might see “If I Were You” floating around. With haunting tip-toes in the verses that build into a massive, towering chorus, “If I Were You” has single tattooed on it; despite its instant infectiousness, “If I Were You” is no lukewarm radio baby. The wails that rip from David Scotney’s throat in the bridge would make even the mutants from The Hills Have Eyes curl up in a corner and suck their thumbs (or whatever finger portion they have left) in submission, satisfying anti-radio hesher-types in the process. “Maybe It’s You” is the most mature and seasoned portion of the first trinity of ‘Red Right Return‘, where majestic verses gently glide forward to a soaring, titanic chorus. The churn and burn of its bridge spells out balance most eloquently, and the doleful serenade of violins/violas adds a whole new layer of mood to the track. After a celestial opening gaze, “Say It” rips wide open, exposing a colorful and radiant trail of consistency from the top down; “Say It” is also the upbeat rollick of ‘Red Right Return‘, but a subtle approach helps the song retain its sternness. Janus uses “Skin Deep” to deliver a disclaimer with a touch of energy and urgency, with the song teetering from rousing verses to the bursting zeal of its choruses. All is merry, until Hurricane Bridge of “Skin Deep” makes landfall, blowing you to shreds. The storm surge is not far behind, as Mr. Scotney’s shattering shriek to seal this deal is far more ominous than any wall of water. The nimble “Your Arms” is the most lyrically gifted tune on ‘Red Right Return‘, thriving on the sensitivity of its poignant, thought-provoking rhetoric. Janus shuts down at the bridge for a moment of tranquil charm, which is outdone only by the sensual stray notes of a string orchestra that gift the patient listeners at the very end of “Your Arms”. Frisky and thirsting for throttle, “The Nerve” rides the thunderous drive of Alan Quitman’s hulky bass-line. With such a thick canvas upon which to play, “The Nerve” emanates a highly stimulating and engaging scent; David Scotney haunts the end of “The Nerve” with a tantrum that will chuck you in a blender and turn you to goo. “Stranger” is as punchy as it is scrappy, living in ethereal harmony alongside the commanding and muscular riff that drives the song. “Stranger” embodies growth, morphing from a brisk, guitar-driven slab into a shrewd and idealistic jaunt chockfull of a vast array of aural-auditory sensations. ‘Red Right Return‘ hangs ‘em up on a very warm and cozy note, as “100 Years” dictates. Janus feeds you a hearty helping of lush, enchanting melodies, to award “100 Years” as the disc’s most resplendent tune. Upon your initial listen, you might feel as though “100 Years” doesn’t quite fit in with its nine predecessors, however you will become more hopelessly addicted with each subsequent spin thereafter.

The brightest jewel in the crown of ‘Red Right Return‘ is “Eyesore”. Janus drops tremendous gusto on its opening, rolling out a red carpet of tympanis and a xylophone. From there, the only thing you hear from “Eyesore” is achievement and progress. Enterprising and studious, “Eyesore” is also notoriously dynamic on all fronts, most notably in regards to the masterful range surveyed by David Scotney. “Eyesore” mirrors its introduction around the song’s halftime, which is just one of the tune’s instances of sheer craftiness by Janus. The band ends “Eyesore” firing on all cylinders, a final and fitting testament to the unrelenting and unforgettable nature of “Eyesore”, as well as ‘Red Right Return‘.

The Bad: To bastardize ‘Red Right Return‘ would be cruel and unusual, because the last thing I’d call this album is so-so or average, let alone bad. The only wish I have would be for ‘Red Right Return‘ to be longer than ten songs, giving Janus more opportunities to razzle and dazzle. If I had to so much as drizzle on this parade, I would say that David Scotney’s screams are not for everyone, nor the faint of heart; as a result, some listeners might require some extra “appreciation time” with the record to help fully digest Scotney’s vocal lightning bolts.

Bottomline: There’s no need to beat around the bush here-’Red Right Return‘ is a near flawless affair. The fact that Janus are an unsigned band still baffles me, because the group accomplished with ‘Red Right Return‘ what many bands strive for their entire careers. From the tight and pinpoint precision of their musicianship to their enviable and poetic penmanship, Janus are years and years ahead of the pack. ‘Red Right Return‘ is an orgasm to 30 Seconds to Mars fans seeking the next generation, so all you bandwagon folks leftover from “The Kill” would be damned not to take a flyer. I’ll digress and give Janus the floor, because they not only deserve your undivided attention, but also earn it with ‘Red Right Return‘.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10