Hype is a terrible thing, and there was a lot of pre-release hype about how great the Bon Voyage album was going to be. Now that it is out, we in the general public have a chance to listen to the album and judge for ourselves the quality of this disc. Well, as far as I'm concerned, it's a good album, but not "the perfect pop record" that we've heard it would be.
Bon Voyage is a band that comes from members with an established pedigree - Jason Martin, guitarist and principal songwriter, is well-known as Starflyer 59's frontman. Julie Martin, the lead singer and wife of Jason, is notable for having been a member of Havalina Rail Company, with her voice featured on their first album on Tooth & Nail. Gene Eugene, frontman for legendary band Adam Again, shows up here as producer and keyboardist, and the rhythm section of Travis (bass) and Matt (drums) is no slouch either. (Although no last names are given, I have a hunch that Matt is Matt McCartie, formerly of The Throes, currently of Driver Eight.) So, with band members with such an illustrious history, it's not surprising that there are high expectations for this album.
While different in tone from a Starflyer 59 album, there is still much the same song structure at work here. "Honeymoon," the opening track on the album, hit me at first as strange - the mixture of Julie Martin's high soprano with the thick guitar base provided by Jason Martin and company can take a while to warm up to. Once the initial shock wears off, though, it is a good opening track for the album. Upbeat and light, it's a very catchy song. Other tracks that I found particularly appealing were the sultry "Kiss My Lips," the surf-flavoured "West Coast Friendship," the '80s flavoured "You Got It, I Want It," and "Together."
Lyrically, I can't guarantee any sort of lyrical depth or spiritual profundity here, other than perhaps that of positively expressed human love between a husband and wife. This is not terribly surprising given Jason Martin's past record of lyrics which are more mood and vibe than substance.
Even if Julie Martin's voice is primarily a fourth instrument in the band, it's a good one. And despite my reservations about the excessive hype accompanying this album, it's grown on me. Curious Havalina fans might like this album, as should Starflyer 59, Morella's Forest, and laid-back surf music fans of all types.
Other coverage for this album
Opus 2000Reviewed by Nolan ShigleyJason Martin from Starflyer 59 and his wife Julie started Bon Voyage by just recording a few singles, but were then encouraged by others to keep recording and to play some live shows. The present self-titled album is the result of good advice taken. Foreshadowed by the past singles put out on vinyl, the current album has turned out to be no other than a gorgeous pop album full of catchy melodies…HM Magazine #72Reviewed by Brian Vincent McGovernFor anyone who likes Starflyer 59's more upbeat songs, imagine putting a sugary sweet female voice in it, and you'll have a fairly good idea of the sound here. Never one to follow trends, Jason Martin, along with wife Julie, have put together one of the nicer female fronted pop records yet this year - without sounding like most other so-called girlie-pop bands, but not as dark and atmospheric as…7ball #17Reviewed by J. Edward KeyesThe debut record from Starflyer-guy Jason Martin and wife Julie opens inauspiciously enough with the fuzzy, indirect pop of "Honeymoon," a bubblegum number about going out on a Saturday night. It neither captures the attention nor refuses it, but chugs along dutifully through its three minutes, ending in a swell of keyboards provided by producer and Adam Again frontman Gene Eugene. Then the real…Puddlegum 1998Reviewed by Aaron BlancoJason Martin has a fixation with love songs. Fans of Starflyer 59 have known this since the "Silver" days. But now Martin has gone and made it a family affair--with his new wife, Julie, and their new band, Bon Voyage. The Martins are in familiar territory in their debut self-titled offering on BEC Recordings. The music is predictable enough, holding few surprises for initiated Starflyer fans. But…Similar sounding releases
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