Band of the Week: Little Joy (+record review)

according to my iTunes, Little Joy is classified as "Tropical" music

now that made me laugh out loud. literally.

the band consists of:

Fabrizio Moretti – Guitar/Tenor Guitar/Piano/Bass/Drums/ Percussion/Melodica & Backing Vocals

Binki Shapiro – Vocals/Guitar/Glockenspiel/Percussion & Backing Vocals

and
Rodrigo Amarante – Vocals/Guitar/Piano/Bass/Ukulele/Organ/ Melotron/ Percussion & Backing Vocals

the album insert also thanked other contributing artists, including Nick Valensi (Fab's fellow Stroke) on background vocals and miscellaneous instruments



I really dig this record. Quite simply, it's happy music. No depressing Conor Oberst vocals in sight: this band sounds like sunshine. "Brand New Start" reminds me a bit of Rilo Kiley's "Silver Lining". You get a bit of Portuguese lyrics here and there, and the closer "Evaporar" is entirely in the beautiful Brasilian dialect of the language. "How to Hang a Warhol" resonates with Strokes fans who are aware of Fabrizio's incredible capacity as an artist (as in art school, which he attended for a few years before pursuing the Strokes full time). "No One's Better Sake" delves a bit into reggae. Binki sings background vox throughout, and sings lead in "Unattainable" and "Don't Watch Me Dancing", singing a la Kimya Dawson in the latter. Alongside "Brand New Start", "Keep Me in Mind" is the strongest track on the record, because the guitar sound is ambitious and explores territory the other songs don't. For an album which was released on Election Day, it's surprising how un-political the collection of songs is. Little Joy is lounge music in every sense of the word, so whip up some margaritas, pull out that bong, and enjoy. I guarantee that Little Joy will give you more than their name suggests. What else would you expect when the Strokes' sexy and talented drummer collaborates with his girlfriend and good friend?

3/5

Little Joy - Brand New Start [mp3]

Little Joy - Keep me in Mind [mp3]

visit the band on MYSPACE

For fans of: Sondre Lerche, Rilo Kiley, Vampire Weekend, and of course, the Fab Four