These four indie music veterans have been playing collectively since 1995, and after more than 10 full-length albums, the members of Joan of Arc still have plenty on their minds. The band’s latest effort, Life Like, toys with problems concerning the modern man, supported by an off-beat rhythm section and spastic electric guitars.
The opening track title “ I Saw The Messed Binds Of My Generation” sums it up pretty well. The 10-minute opener spends most of its time in a haze of electric guitar riffs, followed by a lyrical piece eerily resonate of the novel Fahrenheit 451. Throughout the album, it’s apparent that the electric guitars and their tonality are of highest importance. Tim Kinsella‘s grainy voice often takes a backseat to the rapid rhythm changes and progressing guitars crying in the forefront (especially in “Like Minded” and “Night Life Style”), which lay a chaotic pallete for his dismal lyrics to rest on.
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Joan of Arc is almost a pop-rock version of the heavier As Cities Burn (although JOA have been around longer), with a loose atmosphere full of booming, often heavy jams. It wouldn’t surprise me if Life Like grabs many more admirers to JOA’s already stout fanbase. If you like The Appleseed Cast or As Cities Burn, this should hook you in.
(Polyvinyl Records, 206 N. Randolph St., Suite M100 , Champaign, IL 61820)