Sir Bobby Jukebox, the moniker of Dublin artist Bobby Aherne, has released his sophomore effort, the breathily-titled Sir Bobby Jukebox in the Organ Loft at Midnight. This collection of persistently offbeat and contagiously irreverent songs might lead one to mistake it for comedy or children's music. However, Bobby skillfully navigates nonsensical lyrics, joyous pop choruses, and video game-inspired instrumentation, always maintaining the utmost sincerity.
If it weren't already idiosyncratic enough, this album is only physically available as a set of collectable bubblegum trading cards. Each card features characters plucked from Sir Bobby's childhood notebooks. Recently rediscovered, these nostalgic creations weave through the fabric of the album. Reflecting on this process, Sir Bobby muses, "In a way, it felt like I was looking at somebody else's work. And, in a way, I kinda was."
By reconceptualizing his past, Aherne gives free rein to his creativity, resulting in songs about talking to birds ("Tropical Bird Lingo") and being stalked by drones ("No Fly Zone") with wide-eyed innocence. Some highlights include the ridiculously catchy "Fortitude Valley," which makes no sense but doesn't have to; the nightmarish club-med vibes of "Department of Defense"; the epigrammatic songwriting and rich instrumentation of "Nudity"; and the unforgettable 18-second introduction, "S.B.J.I.T.O.B.A.M." On the other hand, "Radio Tumbleweed" feels cluttered and resembles a pastiche of earlier songs. "Totally Outta Sync" lives up to its name, and "You Lit A Candle Wrong..." is not only sung out-of-key but excessively kitschy.
Sir Bobby Jukebox in the Organ Loft at Midnight blurs the boundaries of genre and imagination, resulting in an effortlessly fun record that strives to entertain and spread good vibes as it explores the crossroads of childhood dreams and adult ingenuity.
★★★½