Little Joy

by Little Joy

Overview

Attempting to compile a list of good side-project albums by drummers of successful bands is a task that will have you stumped almost from the beginning. It appears that Strokes drummer Fabrizio Moretti has done the impossible, though, with Little Joy, the band he formed in 2008 with Rodrigo Amarante of Brazilian band Los Hermanos and Los Angeles singer/songwriter Binki Shapiro. Fab doesn't do the singing, but he wrote (or co-wrote) all the songs and provides a good portion of musical backing for Amarante and Shapiro's restrained vocals. Not only is the result not the embarrassment that some more uncharitable people may have anticipated, but Little Joy is a good -- sometimes very good -- album. A laid-back and easy to digest album with no grand statements to absorb or deeper meanings to dig for, it's made up of simple songs recorded simply and sung sweetly. The variety of influences on display (like midtempo Memphis soul, lovers rock, bossa nova, early-'70s singer/songwriters, and sunshiny pop) gives you an idea of the mood the record conjures. The pieces are mixed and matched smoothly and with an ease and peaceful grace, making the record a joy to listen to. The hooky songs with summery grooves (the sweetly romantic "Brand New Start," "No One's Better Sake") and the semi-rockers (the kinda Stroke-y "Keep Me in Mind") are the first to grab you, but the quiet acoustic songs are just as nice. The gentle touch they display on "Unattainable" and "Don't Watch Me Dancing" is far from what you'd expect from the drummer of the Strokes, but it works perfectly for the trio. It's unlikely that this will become Moretti's full-time gig anytime soon, but he's using his downtime to the fullest with Little Joy. ~ Tim Sendra

Product Details

Release Date:	11/04/2008
Label:	Rough Trade
UPC:	0883870048514
Rank:	35253

Tracks

1. Next Time Around
2. Shoulder To Shoulder
3. Play The Part
4. No Ones Better Sake
5. Unattainable
6. Brand New Start
7. Evaporar
8. How To Hang A Warhol
9. With Strangers
10. Don't Watch Me Dancing
11. Keep Me In Mind

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Little Joy   Primary Artist
Devendra Banhart   Vocals
Fabrizio Moretti   Bass,Drums,Piano,Guitar,Melodica,Percussion,Guitar (Tenor),Vocals (Background)
Nick Valensi   Vocals (Background)
Mike Davis   Trumpet
Noah Georgeson   Guitar,Slide Guitar,Vocals (Background)
Adam Green   Vocals (Background)
Rodrigo Amarante   Bass,Organ,Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Ukulele,Mellotron,Percussion,Guitar (Classical),Vocals (Background)
Alison Lowell   Oboe
Andrew Balogh   Sax (Baritone)
Andy Leonard   Clarinet
Brendan Speltz   Violin
David Tuohy   Vocals (Background)
Wen Yee   Viola
Ryan Duffy   Violin
Mia Barcia-Colombo   Cello
Maciej Sflif   Bassoon,Guest Artist
Keegan Wood   Trombone
Amy Tatum   Woodwind
Binki Shapiro   Guitar,Vocals,Percussion,Glockenspiel,Vocals (Background)
Loribeth Capella   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Ken Thomas   Mixing
Fabrizio Moretti   Group Member
Thom Monahan   Mixing,Producer,Audio Production
Beau Raymond   Audio Production
Noah Georgeson   Mixing,Producer,Audio Production
Rodrigo Amarante   Group Member
Danny Nogueiras   Audio Engineer,Assistant Engineer
James Schumacher   Audio Engineer
Joylon Thomas   Audio Engineer
Josh Bierly   Audio Engineer
Brett Kilroe   Design,Artwork
Autumn de Wilde   Photography
Binki Shapiro   Design,Artwork,Group Member
Maria Eugenia Baker   Photo Courtesy