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Joyce Manor

40 Oz. To Fresno

Written by: PP on 19/12/2022 13:59:09

The world's most inconsistent band Joyce Manor swings back again with a banger of an album that's right up there with their seminal self-titled debut and 2014's "Never Hungover Again". Being a fan of this band is such a frustrating experience when just about every other album fails to live up to expectations, the latest example being this album's predecessor, the indie-flavored snoozefest of "Million Dollars To Kill Me" four years ago.

"40 Oz. To Fresno" is their sixth album. It's a return to the buzzing, noisy urgency that you felt on their self-titled debut. The songs are short and sweet, averaging around the one minute and forty-second mark, resulting in punk-flavored bangers that rage in the soundscape in a lovably unpolished, raw fashion. "Gotta Let It Go" even sees Barry Johnson crack into screams and shouts during its glorious melodic finale in what is arguably the most back-chilling moment of the record.

Earlier, "NBTSA" (Never Be The Same Again) rings through bustling pop punk in a short burst of rowdy sing-along-worthy material. It's an unadulterated look into the Joyce Manor soundscape, showcasing the band at their most boisterous and raucous in almost a decade. Even the quieter and slower tracks like "Dance With Me" sound like a bar fight developing in the background.

The instruments swirl and sparkle, creating a cheerful, upbeat atmosphere that's left purposefully rough around the edges. The effect is irresistible: the songs brash out oozing confidence and beautifully screeching and ringing melodies. "Don't Try" and "Secret Sisters" are two other examples where the band go loud and abrasive, where especially the latter has a particularly garage rockish vibe attached, but its unpolished fuzz and vibrant energy is like listening to Superchunk at their very best.

So as you can see, "40 Oz. To Fresno" is exactly the kind of album that Joyce Manor needs to be writing. It's a flurry of energy and infectious, treble-charged melody, with a distinct punk packaging that results in its explosive feel.

Download: Gotta Let It Go, NBTSA, Don't Try, Secret Sisters, Dance With Me,
For the fans of: Jeff Rosenstock, Living Room, PUP, Signals Midwest, Tenement, The Dirty Nil, Superchunk
Listen: Facebook

Release date 10.06.2022
Epitaph Records