Joyce Manor released their fourth studio album on Friday, October 7, 2016. To celebrate the release of Cody, I'm rating all of their albums.
Whether you've loved Joyce Manor since the early days or you're a new fan, this review is for you.
1. Joyce Manor - 2011.
As a fan of hardcore music, it's no surprise that Joyce Manor's self-titled first album is my favorite. Although it's less than 20 minutes in length, each song has its own unique feel and purpose. This album is arguably the band's angriest, compared to the likes of Jawbreaker and Lemuria by Punknews (who named Joyce Manor their 2011 Album of the Year), but still retains a healthy SoCal sound, evident in songs like Call Out and Beach Community. Due to the album's length (or lack thereof), it seems like you reach the end of the album only a second after you started it; however, the sound manages to morph from energy-packed and angsty (see Famous Friend) in the beginning to powerful and thoughtful at it's end. The last and longest song on the album, Constant Headache, is hard-hitting and emotional, resonating with anyone who's been unsatisfied in a relationship. The song is driven by a beautiful melody, something uncommon in Joyce Manor's music, and is incredibly memorable while still remaining simple. This album isn't for everyone, but if you need some new sound in your life, it might be for you.
2. Never Hungover Again - 2014.
Just like its brothers, Never Hungover Again is short and sweet topping out at around 19 minutes. However, its length in no way affects its performance. The album starts out slow with Christmas Card and Falling In Love Again, setting a deeper and more developed sound for the album but quickly advances into a dramatic upswing with Victoria and Schley. The album is overwhelmingly pop-punk, with songs like Heart Tattoo and Victoria keeping to the template of strict, simple verses and explosive choruses, in contrast to the band’s previous album Of All Things I Will Soon Be Tired which hints at a more introspective and softer sound. So many of my favorite Joyce Manor songs are off of Never Hungover Again, in large part because the band’s maturity and comfort in their sound combined with their raw talent makes for some incredible jams. Although this album only comes close to matching the intensity of its oldest sibling, the self titled Joyce Manor released three years earlier, Never Hungover Again is still really, really good.
3. Cody - 2016.
At this point, it’s pretty evident that Joyce Manor’s biggest talent is being able to nail exactly how you’re feeling through their music. If anything, Cody is a therapist, helping to reason through feelings of discomfort and being unsure of yourself. Although this note is typical of the band, the album definitely doesn’t sound undecided. It doesn’t drift too far from the sound of the band’s previous album, but there’s a new sense of maturity and comfort in the structure of the record. While most of the songs remain short (but not as short as usual) yet capable of expressing fully-formed ideas and emotions, there are some incredible developments in the songs themselves that may be due to the band’s sign with Epitaph. It’s the same Joyce Manor we know and love, but through a glossier and happier lens. The inclusion of an acoustic song, Do You Really Want To Not Get Better?, is another testament to the band’s progression, and one of the only things on the record that wouldn’t have been expected of the group. Cody is especially interesting because while it is still very distinctively Joyce Manor, it seems absent-minded. Even though some songs such as Last You Heard Of Me and Reversing Machine are quickly becoming favorites of mine, I’m not the biggest fan.
4. Of All Things I Will Soon Grow Tired - 2012.
The fourth and final album on this list is Joyce Manor’s sophomore album Of All Things I Will Soon Grow Tired. Straight and simple, I don’t like it. Its twinkly, shoe-gaze sound is very far from the Joyce Manor I came for and the entire work is just not something I’m into. Even though a few songs still have the power and substance of the first album such as Violent Inside, I can’t say I enjoy anything else. The album art is pretty cool, though.
