Album Review: Bad Juju – Blue Heaven (Self Released)

Blue Heaven is the debut album of Melbourne alt rockers Bad Juju, out on July 21st, 2023. In their six years as a band, Bad Juju have only grown stronger and further refined their sound. The underlying theme woven through the album explores the observation of Earth from afar, portraying how the planet appears peaceful and calm, yet at closer inspection, the complexities and struggles of life become more evident.

The build to this album has been extremely enjoyable as the experience of this band has gone from discovery to delight and excitement for each new taste. Bad Juju have taken their time to make sure they are as prepared as possible to unleash their debut record and it pays off. Blue Heaven is a strong and imaginative showcase of their alternative talents and passions.

Beginning with punchy rock and memorable melody on the title track, Bad Juju will make everyone who likes grungy alt-rock feel right at home from the start. The Other Side then takes a heavier approach and proves to be an infectious listen. Plenty of moodiness, plenty of groove, plenty of energy, and a big chorus. Followed then by a track with touching melody and a ton of heart in Walking Away. This latter track is one of the album highlights as it really shows off the emotional value Bad Juju has.

An animated ball of alternative rock, Nothing to Give moves at a fast pace and has a nice and strong instrumental section that gives it heavier vibes. Yet, as enjoyable as that is, it’s the chorus that makes this track special. Then along comes the lighter rock tone of Raincoat, a track that still packs a decent punch, the crowd-pleasing anthemic Misery Sticks to Me, and the honest relatability of Tired of Running. Top tracks that all sit comfortably in the ‘alternative’ category but still feature a ton of variety.

Bad Juju’s passion is still extremely believable as they hit another high with House of Greed. A chorus-driven track, but one with some mournful melody. Before the hotter tempo and snarky vocals of Me vs You reinvigorates, Dear Mother has plenty of punchy groove while being exceptionally moody sounding too, and I Know What You Did takes us back to an earlier grungy-rock era. All leading to a massive final anthem in the form of The Boulevard. One last chance to move, one last chance to sink into Bad Juju’s heartfelt sound, and one last chance to feel something.

At least until you hit play and start the whole album again… which you will.

Bad Juju – Blue Heaven Track Listing:

1. Blue Heaven
2. The Other Side
3. Walking Away
4. Nothing To Give
5. Raincoat
6. Misery Sticks To Me
7. Tired Of Running
8. House Of Greed
9. Me vs You
10. Dear Mother
11. I Know What You Did
12. The Boulevard

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