Permanent Pleasure

by Joywave

Overview

Less conceptually restrictive and more creatively freeform than they've been in years, Joywave merge their usual tongue-in-cheek wit and wildly inventive songwriting with the addition of some orchestral backing for their fifth studio album, Permanent Pleasure. It's unlike anything listeners have heard from them before. Take the cinematic opener, "Graffiti Planet," which incorporates samples from a former mayor of their hometown of Rochester, New York (Thomas Ryan), an orchestra (playing 1984's The Rochester Sesquicentennial, released the year frontman Daniel Armbruster was born), and stabbing synth discord to shake the brain loose before plunging into more-traditional Joywave cuts. Those include "Scared," a showcase for '90s-styled guitar noise and existential dread, and the pulsing earworm "Brain Damage," which describes what it takes to survive in the world today. Meanwhile, the horn-backed disco-funk of the scathing "He's Back!" rides an elastic groove while offering some of the album's sharpest and funniest lyrics, about the second coming. Listeners in search of straightforward indie rock blasts can jump straight to "Swimming in the Glow" and "Hate to Be a Bother," the latter of which features the best sing-along chorus on Permanent Pleasure ("I hate to be a bother/But could you leave me the f*ck alone?"). The contributions by the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra are the secret weapon of this set, imbuing the Joywave sound with theatrical heft and a dreamlike quality that's heard on additional standouts such as the lush "Sleepytime Fantasy" and "Splendor." Short and sweet, Permanent Pleasure is a vibrant maturation that sounds like Armbruster and company are having fun again. The world is going to hell, but after wringing their hands for a few albums, Joywave have decided to embrace the chaos and just be in the moment. It's no surprise that this approach -- and really anything they've set their minds to -- works, resulting in yet another thoughtful, engaging, and thoroughly addictive effort to add to their arsenal. ~ Neil Z. Yeung

Product Details

Release Date:	05/17/2024
Label:	Hollywood Records
UPC:	0050087549176

Tracks

1. Graffiti Planet
2. Scared
3. Brain Damage
4. He's Back!
5. Slepytime Fantasy
6. Swimming in the Glow
7. Hate to Be a Bother
8. 787 Dreamliner
9. Splendor
10. Here to Perform the Final Song From Their Album 'Permanent Pleasure,' Please Welcome... Joywave

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Joywave   Primary Artist
Al Keitz   Pedal Steel
Paul Brenner   Vocals (Background),Drums,Percussion
Daniel Armbruster   Flute,Guitar,Vocals
Joseph Morinelli   Alto,Guitar,Vocals (Background)
Willa Finck   Violin
Herbert Smith   Trumpet
Jeff Newberger   Viola
Lars Kirvin   Cello
Jeff Greene   Trombone
Al Keltz   Pedal Steel

Technical Credits

Stephen Roessner   Engineer
Daniel Armbruster   Composer,Engineer,Lyricist,Producer,Programming,Recording Arranger
Joseph Morinelli   Composer,Recording Arranger
Stephen Sesso   Assistant Engineer
Mike Crossey   Mixing,Programming
Joe LaPorta   Mastering Engineer
Paul Brenner   Composer