All These Fucking Outtakes
Propeller, 2023
9/10
Listen to All These Fucking Outtakes
Too Much Joy released one of the best albums this year, All These Fucking Feelings, and they had enough leftover material for this very limited outtake record.
“What Good For The Banks” begins the listen with acrobatic drumming and melodic singing amid the swirling guitars, and “Better Than Being Alone” follows with thick grooves of charged yet cautious rock that’s crisp and tuneful.
Elsewhere, the vocally harmonic “My Future Ex-Wife” recruits a charming dreaminess that benefits much from the bouncy bass lines, while “Killer The Bichon Frise” uses warm keys and a stirring atmosphere for the sublime intimacy.
The gritty and soaring alt-rock of “Quiet As God” arrives near the end and is the record’s best, and “The Otter’s Return” exits with electro-pop buzzing that shifts into a very smooth and airy finish.
If you’ve heard any of their other work, you’re certainly going to appreciate this project. And even if you haven’t, you’ll likely find yourself a fan pretty quick, seeing as how Too Much Joy are making some of the best post-punk and alt-rock in recent history, where nods to Gang Of Four, Mission Of Burma and The Mekons won’t go unnoticed.
Travels well with: Too Much Joy- Mistakes Were Made; Mekons- Deserted