Upon first listen to Little Joy’s self-titled debut I immediately thought, “This band sounds kinda like a way more sublime and breezy version of The Strokes,” so I was surprised to find out that Little Joy is the side project of Strokes drummer Fabrizio Moretti (along with Brazilian singer Rodrigo Amarante and Binki Shapiro). First, let me tell you that there is a good reason that this album was featured prominently on many “best of 2008” lists. It is a fairly hushed little indie-pop album that (just like Vampire Weekend) infuses some worldly elements (think bossanova, reggae, or Hawaiian music). Little Joy is just that; it’s a joyful little album that is unpolished and unrefined but it makes me want to go islanding somewhere warm and sunny with palm trees and sand all around. All I’ve got right now are the cold grey skies of Chicago so the hushed and carefree tones of Little Joy are welcome around my house anytime.
MP3 | Little Joy – Brand New Start Little Joy
MP3 | Little Joy – The Next Time Around Little Joy
One of the best albums of 2008 IMHO. The Strokes thing hit me really hard the first time I listened to it, too; but everything that’s NOT Strokes about it sort of popped out the more I listened to the album.
I <3 Little Joy