15 years into their career, Joyce Manor has become a force in Californian punk. Over the course of six albums, they’ve carved out a reputation for writing short, sharp and punchy punk songs. Throughout that time, primary songwriter Barry Johnson has grown from adolescence to adulthood, taking listeners along on brief journeys. Album number seven arrives in the form of ‘I Used To Go To This Bar’. Produced by Epitaph Records head honcho, Brett Gurewitz, the California trio maintain their status by delivering nine songs in less than 20 minutes.
That may all sound routine, yet Johnson, along with guitarist Chase Knobbe, and bassist Matt Ebert, can conjure up a handful of hooks that deserve to be played on repeat. Take the album’s first single, ‘All My Friends Are So Depressed,’ for example. Dressed up with a country twang, the simple, harmonious “hey” leads a galloping chorus that shines through its pleasing wordplay. For Johnson, he pinpoints the hopelessness of being stuck, restless, and unmotivated due to depression; “Got it wrong, can’t move on, Been awake for far too long, 3 PM, can’t get dressed.”
Throughout, the trio provides choruses that vivaciously burst. Both ‘Well, Whatever It Was’ and ‘I Know Where Mark Chen Lives’ both did this ahead of ‘I Used To Go…’ release. ‘I Know Where Mark Chen Lives’ kickstarts the album with a slice of rigid pop-punk and a radiant chorus. Meanwhile, ‘Well, Whatever It Was’ jangles through with some soothing harmonies, as Johnson deals with absurdly bad luck and emotional burnout. In contrast, there are moments such as the Weezer-esque ‘Falling Into It’. Here, they lean into their power-pop capabilities with a straightforward offering.
Throughout their subtle signs of musical growth, yet never feels forced or out of place. ‘After All You Put Me Through’ is led by Ebert’s hard-edged bassline. Yet it’s Johnson’s drifting delivery and the track’s underlying harmonious synth keys that give the track an introspective tone. The country tones of ‘All My Friends Are So Depressed’ are utilised on ‘The Opossum’s double time shuffle, before a harmonica briefly appears on ‘Well Don’t it Seem Like You’ve Been Here Before’.
For all its brevity, Joyce Manor rarely sounds like they’re rushing through to get to the end of the song. Johnson’s often sincere words allow each track to have an identity, despite very few passing the two-minute mark. For example, the title track contains some playful rhyming and strong guitar melodies, exemplifying Joyce Manor‘s strengths.
Overall, the use of shining melodies, paired with a downbeat narration of rose-tinted disappointment, makes for a satisfying listen. Although I’m sure after six albums, some will no doubt feel the trio could take more (and longer) chances. For everyone, ‘I Used To Go To This Bar’ is a worthy addition to a credible discography.
‘I Used To Go To This Bar’ by Joyce Manor is released on January 30th on Epitaph Records.
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