"Joyce Manor - I Used To Go To This Bar" Surprisingly Decent

 

    I write this review as a pretty big fan of Joyce Manor. I wouldn't call myself their biggest fan, I know people who have tattoo's because of them, but I've listened to every one of their albums, I've seen them live, and I even like albums from them that many consider mediocre or not worth their time. All of this to say I was pretty skeptical of this album coming into it. I mean their last record, 40 oz. to Fresno was underwhelming on all fronts in my eyes. Not just in the sense that it was their shortest album (which is hilarious considering this band seems allergic to songs over 2 minutes and albums longer than 20 minutes). But it just wasn't as good. I liked a couple of tracks off of it, but we waited all that time and the best track off of it was a 1 minute song that they had basically repurposed. And so, in the leadup to this latest album I had more than my own healthy share of skepticism. I only liked about half of the singles, and the singles I didn't like were introducing a sprinkle of country twang, and a couple more shakes of indie rock that the band has been leaning into anyways. But a sliver of hope remained, in the song known as I Know Where Mark Chen Lives, because by golly, I didn't know the band still had it in them, thankfully I might add, considering I'll be seeing them live later this year. So without further ado, my track-by-track review.

I Used To Go To This Bar - Joyce Manor

I Know Where Mark Chen Lives - 85/100 God this song is so good. Ever since Never Hungover Again it just feels like Joyce Manor's been lacking that angst and aggression that made them one of those great emo/pop-punk acts. Almost as if they've tried really hard to separate themselves from that and turn themselves into more of an emo act, but this song proves they still got it when they want to.

Falling Into It - 80/100 This song starts off a little slow but I do like what it eventually transforms into with that fuzzy indie guitar sound. Dare I say it's almost Jeff Rosenstockesque?

All My Friends Are So Depressed - 60/100 I'm going to be honest this song grew on me, but when I first heard it I fell to my knees and started to question if I bought Joyce Manor tickets too early. It's not bad, but just very left-field for them, though I recently went through their discography so I suppose I shouldn't have been too surprised at this songs existence. It just seems like the band loves making more indie-leaning songs like this and they're fine and if I heard it live I might even sing along to it, but like this doesn't feel Joyce Manor.

Well, Whatever It Was - 80/100 I do indeed like this song better than the last one. I also wasn't crazy about it when it first came out because it admittedly doesn't really feel like this band, but it grew on me. It's got this almost trashy yet catchy element to it where it's kind of easy to sing along to. The guitar solo at the end is a nice touch too.

I Used To Go To This Bar - 80/100 I like this song, but I have no idea why they released it as a last minute single. Their songs and albums are already so short we really don't need to hear half of the record before it's out. We can wait I can assure you that. Dare I say Joyce Manor's almost finally hitting their stride on their blend of indie and pop-punk on this record.

After All You Put Me Through - 60/100 Is Joyce Manor allowed to have a piano on their album? I'm not saying this song is too soft, but I just feel like it kind of needs to lean in one direction or the other in terms of being soft or loud, and I just don't think this album is really good enough at any of that right now. 

The Opossum - 75/100 I saw someone call this album corny, and yeah they're probably right but hey I'm having fun with this album which is much better than I could say from their last album. 

Well Don't It Seem Like You've Been Here Before - 75/100 You see that harmonica at the end? That's what I'm talking about with like a slight twang they've given this album. And I can't believe it's kind of working on me to be honest. 

Grey Guitar - 85/100 Kind of crazy they decided to end and begin this album with their best songs. I'm not saying a band can't change, or that they should stick to the same super angsty, aggressive sound from their first couple of albums, but it's kind of hard to change when your songs all remain super short.

Final Score: 75/100

    I'll be damned. I actually enjoyed this album. I mean I'm a pretty big fan of theirs and even if this album was trash I would have went to go see them live regardless, so maybe take my opinion with a grain of salt. Either way it was refreshing. Dare I say it's kind of easily their third best record? I mean the three records in between this one and Never Hungover Again I only really revisit like 40% of their songs anyways. This one might not have the crazy high's of early Joyce Manor, but it's a pretty solid album nonetheless, and it seems like they're finally figuring out this whole indie sound they've been trying to masquerade around with for the past couple of albums. Good job.