Skip to main content

IN REVIEW: Joyce Manor - "40 oz. to Fresno"

 

The sixth album by Joyce Manor finds the Californian power punk poppers entering their second decade as a band in much the same headspace as they've been in since their inception; while detours have been few and far between (2016's Cody a little grungier, 2018's Million Dollars to Kill Me a bit more melodic), Joyce Manor have gotten very good at what they do, which is offer up quick and easy slices of anxiety-ridden rock for a generation of fans with shrinking attention spans.

Indeed, 40 oz. to Fresno continues Joyce Manor's streak of short, sweet albums; including the new one, their entire six album discography can be consumed in under two hours. There's a built-in old man yelling at cloud diatribe that comes with the slightness of Joyce Manor's records, but I have to acknowledge that issuing albums in the twenty minute range (40 oz. to Fresno has nine songs and runs about seventeen minutes, only two of which crack the two minute mark) is probably the smartest move a band can make in the age of stream, consume, move on. Rather than bellyache about the economics of paying X dollars for 17 minutes of music, I'll instead tip my hat to them, because they're going to make more streaming dollars pennies since fans can listen to an entire album of songs in less time than it takes to spin Shine On You Crazy Diamond.

Anyway, having established that nearly everything you know and love about Joyce Manor is intact here (including, as I mentioned on reviews of both their previous records, an increased maturity that comes with age and experience), I'm not entirely sure what I can actually say in regards to the music itself. If you've enjoyed them in the past, this one doesn't colour too far outside the lines. If you're not familiar with them, 40 oz. to Fresno isn't the best nor worst place to start your exploration; personally, I'd recommending starting with 2014's Never Hungover Again. No matter what you choose, though, rest assured that Joyce Manor is highly unlikely to waste your time.

June 10, 2022 • Epitaph
Highlights You're Not Famous Anymore • Gotta Let It Go • Dance With Me

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Year in Rock 2025

  Alright, I've got some explaining to do.   By now anyone who's visited this blog is well aware of how infrequently I've used this space in recent years; aside from the occasional fertile year of content, I really haven't posted all that often over the last five years or so. There are many reasons for this, which have already been outlined in previous apology posts; but, essentially, it boils down to my own laziness and the cold reality that blogs are, like Refused (again), fucking dead. So, I wouldn't hold my breath for a triumphant return to reviews, or even semi-regular posts, but:   a) I feel like Year in Rock posts have always belonged here and, even though I've experimented with different methods of presentation recently and been satisfied, the "blink and you missed it" unveiling via Facebook stories this year was perhaps ultimately a disservice to the records I lauded. After all, cramming the list into short videos isn't too far off from ju...
Post a Comment
Read more

Year in Rock 2016: Solo Artist Nominees

Artists who stand alone, who put their name on their album jackets and assume full responsibility for the art they give to the world, exhibit a kind of bravery that I've always admired. It takes courage to stand on that proverbial stage in solitude; this year's nominees faced varying degrees of challenges, but they all shared the desire to stare down the criticisms and expectations of every other individual they shared the air with and exclaim, "Don't worry. I've got this." Your Year in Rock 2016 nominees for Solo Artist Recording of the Year are:
Post a Comment
Read more

Year in Rock 2024

  So, how weird is it to post a Year in Rock 2024 write-up a year late? Honestly, this is just for posterity; with a post to wrap up 2025 possibly posted by the time you see this, I couldn't stand the gap that would otherwise be present. I'll have more to say, but will wait until the Year in Rock 2025 post to say it. Instead, I'll just dive right in with the list. This will be the least exciting Year in Rock post you've ever seen.   25. The Smashing Pumpkins - "Aghori Mhori Mei" 24.  Japandroids - "Fate & Alcohol" 23. Pearl Jam - "Dark Matter" 22. Cheekface - "It's Sorted" 21. Kim Gordon - "The Collective" 20. High Vis - "Guided Tour" 19. Acid Mammoth - "Supersonic Megafauna Collision" 18. Microwave - "Let's Start Degeneracy" 17. IDLES - "TANGK" 16. Jerry Cantrell - "I Want Blood" 15. Chat Pile - "Cool World" 14. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard ...
Post a Comment
Read more