Just Jinger were one of the new breed of South African rock bands that rose to prominence in that country in the late '90s. Forming in the province of Gauteng in 1994, Just Jinger soon established themselves on the South African scene with their energetic live shows and catchy guitar pop. Their debut album appeared in 1997. Entitled All Comes Round, it sold well in South Africa and generated a hit single in "Stand in Your Way." The band followed this up in 1998 with the Something for Now EP, which was a collection of songs that had proved popular during gigs but had not been previously recorded. Again, this disc sold well, and "Like You Madly" received significant radio airplay. Following the success of these two recordings, the band was criticized for being derivative and clichéd, and it was felt that much of Just Jinger's success and foreign exposure was coming at the expense of more original South African bands. Despite this, the band continued to experience strong sales. Just Jinger returned in 1999 with a new disc, Here's to You, ostensibly a tribute to their fans for their continued support. They changed their name to Just Jinjer after moving to the U.S., where they were signed by Mike Curb to Curb Records in 2009. ~ Jonathan Lewis
