Some bands show all the signs of numbering among my favorites and then just stop dead in their tracks.
When I first heard Jump, Little Children, on their first studio album Magazine, it was love at first listen. The band’s sound was unique and rich — a product of their choice of instruments: guitar, upright bass, cello, accordion and drums. Lead singer Jay Clifford’s vocals sweetened every song like rough honey.
Based on Magazine, plus a demo I bought of the band’s independent recordings, I though I’d follow this band until the day I died.
That didn’t last three years.
Their next album, Vertigo, featured one or two songs I really liked but nothing else memorable. And their third (under a new name, Jump), Between the Dim & the Dark, barely registered. I don’t know if I’ve heard it all the way through more than once.
Did they change? Did I? Did they have just one great album in them? Something happened, but I can’t tell what.
We’re like former best friends who now pass each other in the hall with barely a nod.
It’s up to you
For every passing day
To not let the past pass away
It’s up to you
Now that you understand
To take those who don’t by the hand
‘Cause you can see it coming
You can see it coming
You can see their light fade
Beneath the stars
It’s up to you
Not to sing along
When all of the feeling is gone
‘Cause we don’t sing the same song anymore
Now you’re offering this requiem
‘Cause we don’t sing the same song anymore
Now you’re offering this silent requiem
De la de lay la
It’s up to you
To understand your age
To not let the years charge a wage
It’s up to you
To see it in the eyes
Of all those who don’t realize
‘Cause you can see it coming
You can see it coming
You can see them high, high above the stars
It’s up to you
Not to sing along
When all of the feeling is gone
‘Cause we don’t sing the same song anymore
Now you’re offering this requiem
‘Cause we don’t sing the same song anymore
Now you’re offering this silent requiem
And I can see that look on your face
When you don’t sing along, you don’t sing along
And I can see that look on your face
When you don’t sing along, you don’t sing along
‘Cause we don’t sing the same song anymore
Now you’re offering this requiem
‘Cause we don’t sing the same song anymore
Now you’re offering this requiem
‘Cause we don’t sing the same song anymore
Now you’re offering this silent requiem
De la de lay la
And I can see that look on your face
When you don’t sing along, you don’t sing along
And I can see that look on your face
When you don’t sing along, you don’t sing along
And I can see that look on your face
Meet Me In Montauk 
This song seems pleasant enough, though not particularly memorable. I’m not sure if this song exemplifies their new sound generally, but, if it does, perhaps they suffer for being bit too smooth and safe.
As for your best friend/favorite new band analogy, has there been an instance where a new fave has fallen out of favor and then later regained it’s former stature? Maybe Jump could someday earn your attention again.