Joan of Arc - So Much Staying Alive and Lovelessness

Joan of Arc
So Much Staying Alive and Lovelessness
Jade Tree Records
Grade: A-

Here comes the sixth album from these Chicago stalwarts of the underground indie-sound. On So Much Staying Alive and Lovelessness, this four-piece from Chicago concentrate on bringing back the essence of rock foundations mixed with their sense of punk traditions and indie eclecticism. More importantly, the eleven tracks on the record are considerably easier for the average listener to enjoy and understand than much of their past material. That is, past records from Joan of Arc often floated into a realm of abstraction that few could truly appreciate. At the same time, it is not as if Joan of Arc ever suffered from a lack listeners and people willing to be exposed by the previous material. So Much… was a two-year project where Joan of Arc moved away from computer arrangements and extreme layered tracks and back to live-band-in-studio composition. Also, there is a significant collaboration between elements of JOA and sister band Friend/Enemy. The payoff is huge.

So Much… starts off with "On a Bedsheet in the Breeze On the Roof" that sounds as though it could have been lifted from past Cap'n Jazz material; well, clearly it is a stylistic issue attached to the vocals of Tim Kinsella. "On a Bedsheet…" lays the landscape for the rest of the record; a characterization of guitar-driven indie-rock multiplied by the varying instruments (e.g., cowbell, piano, steel drum, violin, etc.), eclecticism, experimentation and harmonies of past JOA releases. Part of this characterization includes a penchant for five and six minute songs, which forces the listener to take in the whole song or lose out on significant moments. Meanwhile, parts of "Perfect Need and Perfect Completion" sound as though Moby had a hand in producing the track. This track contains a very catchy section that it is armed with a Wurlitzer and pedal steel that receives some heavy head nodding from the listener. This is then followed by the electric piano banging of "Olivia Lost" and violin basting and fast speech of "Diane Cool and Beautiful." One of the coolest songs on the record is clearly "Participation Billy." The song has this French monkey grinder organ under-element and with a trippy piano placed over it. Though the lyrics are inherently melancholy, the music itself is beautiful. "Mean to March" contains a mind-sticking guitar buildup that adds considerably to the enjoyment of the song. Also check out the great slow and methodical march on "Madelleine Laughing."

As with past Joan of Arc releases, So Much… is frightfully in-depth and eclectic, but its refocus on the elements of rock sets itself apart. The songs are all well thought out and planned and one would have a close to impossible task to improve on them. Joan of Arc are hitting the road to support this release, so watch them re-create this masterpiece.