Get Up – Jonquil Get Up – Jonquil (Free Download / Buy)

Jonquil’s music could certainly be considered warm and spirited. Rather than coming from the tropical islands of the Caribbean, the Greek Isles, or New Zealand, however, Jonquil calls the cold, cloudy, and dreary United Kingdom their home.  Despite this location, they still channel warm island vibes on their album One Hundred Suns.

Jonquil’s songs easily fall into a feel-good category. In fact, for the grumpy listener, One Hundred Suns may seem annoying for that very reason. With Calypso inspired songs like “Get Up” and “It Never Rains”, though, head-bopping and shoulder swaying occur unconsciously, lifting even the worst of moods. The upbeat tempos, quick riffs, and bouncing lyrics simply make any listener feel brighter (at least temporarily). “I Know I Don’t Know”, another track that can be appreciated for it’s incredibly jovial yet subtle qualities, also employs interesting and enigmatic lyrics. The line “I always thought of you as my influenza or utopia…” and the constant repetition of the song title towards the end, give the tune a singability and depth that make it my favorite track off the album.

Singer Hugo Manuel’s voice always seems to be arriving from a distance, giving their songs a chill, hazed effect, without officially falling into the shoegaze category. Also, with the light, tribal-like drumming throughout Jonquil’s album, it’s hard not to think of other bands like Local Natives and Vampire Weekend who also are known for the use of Afro-beat elements.

Jonquil’s One Hundred Suns takes you away from that unforgiving view of the harsh brick wall outside your city apartment’s window or the never-ending row of cookie cutter houses in your underwhelming suburban housing development. Instead, you find yourself in a relaxed, colorful, festive state of mind that perfectly matches Jonquil’s album cover. It’s a great way to bring mental warmth to a cold winter’s day.