Sophie's Floorboard: Joyce Manor

Joyce Manor are the epitome of good music, the pinnacle of sound waves everywhere. These guys are a four-piece pop-punk band from Torrance, California who do everything right. They're catchy as hell, fun, and energetic while still being original and evading redundancy. Lyrically, they're relatable and well-written. Musically, they're tight and well-rounded. They've got a very distinct sound without stereotypes, blandness, or replicas. Their influences could include Jawbreaker, Descendents, Weezer, even Thin Lizzy and The Smiths. Yet they don't sound like direct rip-offs of any of them. It's cool.

Currently they're signed to Asian Man Records (though they were previously on 6131) and have 2 demos, 1 EP, 2 splits, 2 full-lengths, and 1 compilation to their name, all of which are below. I don't know what else to say. They're just a fucking awesome band, easily one of my favourites around now, if not ever. They kick ass live too, I've seen them twice and they were both easily two of the most fun and exciting shows I've ever been to. I think they're one of those bands that everyone can love, and everyone who hears them does, no matter what they're into. These guys are just that good, but I'm sure you already know that (or are about to find out). Anyway, no need to drag this on. It's best to keep it short like a Joyce Manor song. Yeah.

Demo (2009)

1. Stir Crazy

2. Fuck Koalacaust

3. Housewarming Party

4. Party To End All Parties

This is their first release, a demo put out in 2009. I don't have any artwork for it unfortunately. These songs are done primarily with an acoustic guitar, though an electric is used as well. There's drums too, and I'm not sure if there's bass or not. If so, it's not very audible. "Stir Crazy" is a very early version of "Ashtray Petting Zoo" from their self-titled. This song would also appear on Ew Gross under this same name. Four great jams on here. They're indicative of where they're going while still holding up on their own.

Ew Gross (2009)
1. Chumped On A Bus

2. Derailed

3. Dry Heat

4. Do Fish Have Periods?

5. I Know Why

6. James

7. Shortout Socket

8. Stir Crazy

This is a demo/EP also put out in 2009. I can't find artwork for this one either. It's got early versions of "Chumped" ("Chumped On A Bus"), "Derailed" ("Derailed"), "DFHP?" ("Do Fish Have Periods?"), and "Ashtray Petting Zoo" ("Stir Crazy"). The rest are exclusive to this, and they too are great.

Constant Headache (2010)

1. Constant Nothing

2. Done Right Discount Flooring

3. Five Beer Plan

4. Chumped

5. Leather Jacket

This might be the first official release, but I'm not sure of that. It's a huge jump from their previous demos, despite only being put out a year later. Perhaps it's the recording quality, but it really sounds like they've honed in and locked down their sound and songwriting abilities. It sounds more like the band that would put out the subsequent albums, whereas the demos are more indicative of this and sound like a band just getting together. But I suppose that's what they are. They're great of course, I don't mean to put them down, but this is when they really began to get good, I think. "Constant Nothing" and "Leather Jacket" were re-recorded for their self-titled album.

Summer Vacation/Joyce Manor (2010)

1. Summer Vacation - Super Orgy

2. Summer Vacation - Don't Panic

3. Summer Vacation - The Many Faces Of Mental Chillness

4. Joyce Manor - Holiday Heart

5. Joyce Manor - DFHP?

6. Joyce Manor - My Elise

This is their 2010 split with fellow So-Cal punk band Summer Vacation. They're awesome as well. They contributed three songs each, which are all great (of course), although I don't like it as much as their previous release, but whatever. "DFHP?" previously appeared on Ew Gross as "Do Fish Have Periods?" and Matt (the bassist who also does a ton of backing vocals) sings the entirety of "My Elise". It's great.

Joyce Manor (2011)

1. Orange Julius

2. Call Out (Laundry)

3. Beach Community

4. Derailed

5. Famous Friend

6. Leather Jacket

7. 21st Dead Rats

8. Constant Nothing

9. Ashtray Petting Zoo

10. Constant Headache

Best album ever. Enough said.

Joyce Manor/Big Kids (2011)

1. Joyce Manor - New In This Light

2. Joyce Manor - Midnight Service At The Mutter Museum (Murder City Devils cover)

3. Big Kids - Pig Through A Python

This is their split with Big Kids, a punk band from Oakland, California who should definitely check out if you're not familiar with. Joyce Manor's got two songs on here, an original ("New In This Light") and a Murder City Devils cover ("Midnight Service At The Mutter Museum"). I love this.

Of All Things I Will Soon Grow Tired (2012)

1. These Kind Of Ice Skates

2. Comfortable Clothes

3. See How Tame I Can Be

4. Drainage

5. Video Killed The Radio Star (The Buggles cover)

6. If I Needed You There

7. Bride Of Usher

8. Violent Inside

9. I'm Always Tired

This is their second full-length (13 minutes, very full in length) put out earlier this year. The band's exploring some new elements (taking influence from The Smiths and post-punk), retaining a similar sound to what they have been doing, and even throwing back to their first demo (there's two acoustic songs on here). They do another cover ("Video Killed The Radio Star") too. Real good stuff.

Collection (2012)

1. Constant Nothing

2. Done Right Discount Flooring

3. Five Beer Plan

4. Chumped

5. Leather Jacket

6. New In This Light

7. Midnight Service At The Mutter Museum

8. Holiday Heart

9. My Elise

10. DFHP?

This is a compilation which includes their songs from Constant Headache, their split with Big Kids and their split with Summer Vacation. I suppose it's convenient, but I'd just download the three separately. You get the individual artwork and the other band's songs on the splits. But you know, if you want to.

Nervous Energies (2012)

1. Housewarming Party (Nervous Energies Halloween session - Clean version)

Barry just did Housewarming Party from their demo for a Nervous Energies session on, as the name says, Halloween. The "Clean version" is just the same song with the removal of the sound of fog machines, which were present in the performance. Speaking of which, you can check out here.