Little Joy;Self-Titled

The Strokes drummer Fabrizio Moretti has the perfect recipe for one of this year’s most enjoyable albums. Rocker Moretti teamed up with Rodrigo Amarante of Brazillian indie-rock band Los Hermanos and instrumentalist Binki Shapiro. Little Joy’s self titled album is sweetly innocent and perfect. There is an island-esqu, 50’s style sound that is consistently evident in every song and each track blending into the next with ease. Brand New Start is a sweet up tempo love song that embraces and encourages a second chance at love “All this time they had me thinking/Love's a boat that's slowly sinking/; Ain't no lover like the one I've got/She and I have a brand new start”. No Ones Better Sake is sunny and laced with background organs that provide a fuller element; you’d never think this would be a break up song; ‘So is this how it ends/Oh with a whimper instead of bang/I can't defend you truly/When I worry about smoke instead of putting out the fire’. In How To Hang A Warhol, Moretti sings stories of telling mom and dad dreams of being an artist or orchestra conductor and when that all fails he’ll still be singing and playing in a band; “But as long as I can't get into Carnagie Hall/I'll keep writing them songs/That are all mine/Very simple and dumb/Like I've always have done. Little Joy delivers something unique that can be listened to anywhere at anytime with anyone.

A

Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band: Conor Oberst

Oberst has a sound on a much more positive and happy note with The Mystic Valley Band than compared to his albums released with his previous band Bright Eyes. This 12 track self titled album was recorded during a month long stint in Mexico last winter. While Oberst’s unique atypical voice is either one that you love or hate, there is no doubt his lyrics are crafted with intricate care. Cape Canaveral starts off the journey with a smooth lullaby acoustics where he admits “Victory is sweet even deep in the cheap seats”. Moab is an upbeat electric tune about a man’s travels and how being on the road is able to fix anything, “See those headlights coming towards us?/That’s someone going back to a town/They said they’d never/Thy swore it on their lives/’ ‘There’s nothing that the road cannot heal”. Sausalito is an automatic mood lifter with a poppy beat and breezy melodies and lyrics ‘We should move to Sausalito/Livings easy on a houseboat/Let the ocean rock us back and forth to sleep”. This album is refreshing and delicately eye opening.

B

Ryan Adams and the Cardinals: Cardinlology

Tantrums, drugs and alcohol fueled Ryan Adams previous albums, no doubt. The cleaned up Adams is clearly evident throughout Cardinology. The common sounding theme in every track is country rock meets classic rock.

Adams kicks off the album with “Born into a Light”, a mid-tempo, yet, catchy tune where he prays for friends and himself to get through tough times and” For everyone alone I wish you faith and hope/ And all the strength to cope/ To be your own best friend have confidence and keep the faith”. Next in line is “Go Easy” is a heartfelt love song littered with southern-rock hooks. “Magick” picks up the pace with a familiar ‘raw garage rock out session’ feel; with lyrics like “You’re like a missile strike/Government goes underground/Warhead on legs/What goes around comes around”.

The last half of the album slows down and eventually closes down and almost brings you to tears with “Stop”, a solo piano and Adam’s fragile voice weeping through lyrics about his battles in rehab “I know a sickness/So ancient and cross/ No crucifix/ Could ever fix enough”

The album keeps relaxed vibe but Adams has never sounded so rational. Blame it on sobriety or blame it on growing up. Ryan Adams has brought new light to his one of a kind sound.

C