One Armed Joey

Happiness, To Me

Written by: PP on 07/08/2022 18:41:22

One Armed Joey is a pop punk band from Northern California, whose debut album "Happiness, To Me" oozes classic late 90s vibes throughout. We're talking bright, upbeat melodies without any unnecessary inflation of the soundscape via production gimmicks nor focus on high-pitched vocals, just the way we like it at this magazine. It's all about laid-back vocal hooks and fast-paced guitars with a few pop-rock chords thrown in for good measure, prioritizing unassuming choruses over mainstream radio exposure.

If such an approach sounds familiar, that's because it is. Bands like Mxpx and to some extent Allister and The Ataris have been dabbling in precisely the same realm since the 90s. At the same time, a song like "Mirrors" echoes "Dookie"-era Green Day, utilizing similarly crunchy guitars to complete the 90s pop punk soundscape once and for all. One Armed Joey effectively sounds like an amalgamation of all aforementioned bands and then some, recalling an era that's not well represented in pop punk anno 2022.

That's an advantage to an extent since not too many bands sound like this right now. But at the same time, it's not particularly original either. The songs are decent, but lack longevity, leaving behind a record that's consistently decent but rarely wows the listener through highlight reel-level moments. Should I compare it to a recent Mxpx record, I'd have to go with the Mxpx record almost every time. But then again, their consistency is the stuff of legends.

Download: Mirrors, Numbstruck, Rot, Homesick
For the fans of: Mxpx, The Ataris, Allister, Broadway Calls, (old) Green Day
Listen: Facebook

Release date 27.05.2022
Sell The Heart Records

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