Just Amsterdam - Pick Up // Put Down

​Just Amsterdam

Pick Up // Put Down
​self-released; 2024

By ​Dino DiMuro

When I was first coming up in music, the term “Alternative” meant something very different. Not just another corporate label, it actually signified most anything the majors (and even most indies) wanted nothing to do with musically. We’re talking quirky bedroom pop, lofi experimental rock or even sheer noise. With all the new tools musicians have, it’s rare that I come across an album that sounds like a true alternative release of yore. But we have one with Just Amsterdam’s nine-song album Pick Up // Put Down.

Just Amsterdam call themselves “a relatively new band from Hamilton, Ontario that aims to write fun songs about sad times and sad songs about fun times. Never been to Amsterdam.” They struggled to pick a genre for themselves but finally came up with Post-Bubblegum Grunge. For me the stark, untreated quality of their songs took a little getting used to: it’s like a couple members of the band are playing you backing tracks on tape, then singing along right there in the room. But once I got situated within their stripped-down sound, I was quite happy to be there!

The four members are Randy Wu (guitarist/vocalist/songwriter), Cara McKay (songwriter/bass/lead vocals), Christopher Walker (guitars) and Griffin Jastal (drums). I was able to hunt these credits down from the single release of “Seasons.” All recording, mixing and mastering was done in Randy’s basement using Logic Pro X with stock plugins.“

Seasons” is the opening track and first single from the band. It starts with jangly Creedence-style guitars featuring insistently high-end tones. The band’s sound is very “live” almost as if you wandered into a basement rehearsal. This track actually has a smart pop arrangement and great melodies, but the vocals (sorry to say) are not quite up to the demands of this song. That the band eschews most vocal reverb is part of the problem. With the acoustic-based “Space For Me” the group is already on more solid footing. The main chord sequence is similar to the old hit “Summer Breeze.” The vocals are sung closer to the bottom of the throat, situated firmly in the lap of the acoustic chords. As the singing becomes more dramatic, I got chills as I once did by Bowie’s or Kurt Cobain’s acoustic tracks. In fact, when the electric guitars kick in for the chorus, it’s not too far from Nirvana glory.

“Stuck” is a fun song with lots of forward momentum, with the lead vocalist “playing it up” a bit with something close to an English accent. He even points out the vocals with the line: “I hate the sound of my voice / so of course I made the most ironic choice.” The main riff recalls R.E.M.’s “Gardening At Night.” There’s a chorus with roaring guitars and classic rock vocals, though again without a shred of reverb. We even have a descending vocal C-section very similar to The Young Rascals “It’s A Beautiful Morning.” The clean opening guitars of “Letters” again remind me of early R.E.M., and the vocals continue to improve. With the shouted hard-rockin’ chorus, I’m starting to see the logic of the band’s description of themselves as “post-bubblegum grunge.” This is an exciting, rowdy track to which I could see myself pumping devil horns at a live show.

“Interlude” is the only instrumental and is centered on the bass guitar. The melodies are quirky and interesting, and definitely not played exactly in time with each other. There’s a sweet moment for a yearning guitar solo that’s a little low in the mix. “Still I Stand” starts with a chord scheme filled with such drama, I expected a matador to strut out for a bow. “Great Lakes” is a jagged acoustic and vocal blues lament. with maybe even a train rolling by in the background. Very unexpected! McKay performs an authentic whistling solo. “Big Pig Man” brings the band fully back to their grunge roots, with all instruments and vocals at full volumed and hyper speed, concluding the album with an actual band breakdown caught on tape.

This was definitely a mixed bag, but overall it’s a bag I really enjoyed digging into. Worth exploring!

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