Little Joy: One and Done
During a mid 2000s hiatus, The Strokes each went off on their own leading to an amazing and underrated indie band called Little Joy. From this break came arguably the best side project from the band, or at the least debatably until The Voidz released a few albums about a decade later.
Little Joy was a super group formed in 2007 by Fabrizio Moretti, the drummer of The Strokes, as well as Brazilian artist Rodrigo Amarante of Los Hermanos, and multi-instrumentalist Binki Shapiro. The story goes that they named the band after a bar in LA they would frequently go to. Little Joy only released one album in 2008 before going on an indefinite hiatus. The self-titled album was released by Rough Trade Records to favorable reviews, however, the album remains a sort of cult classic and underrated gem even now nearly fifteen years after its initial release.
A picture of Little Joy at a beach, which encapsulates the essence of the band and their album.
The album is full of catchy melodies and charming, warm lo-fi sounds years before that would become the norm in the indie scene of the 2010s. It has such a unique sound that draws heavily from its influences while creating something very nostalgic sounding. In no way does it sound like a Strokes album and only somewhat like Los Hermanos. The album is a pleasant and concise project clocking in at only 31 minutes.
The opening track on the album, “The Next Time Around” really sets the tone of the album with its playful guitars, laid-back harmonies, and upbeat groove. This song, along with many on the album, has a very interesting sound reminiscent of 1950s and 60s bossa-nova with 2000s indie flair. “Brand New Start” continues the same vibe of the opening track, however, I find this track to have more uplifting and optimistic lyrics. I enjoy the horns that come in during the chorus as they fit the theme and lyrics of the song.
“Play the Part” is the first of a few slower melancholy ballad-type songs on the album. This song is also the first to have Shapiro’s vocals backing it and her voice absolutely stands out on this album. Shapiro’s vocals lend a 1940s and 50s quality to the album which adds to the charming nostalgic feel.
“No One’s Better Sake” continues with the sound and aesthetic of the first two songs. A highlight for me is the backing vocals during the chorus as they add something charming to the melody. “Unobtainable” is the first song with Binki Shapiro on the lead vocals and it is the best part of the track. It’s a slower tempo and minimal production however that only highlights how strong her vocals are on this track. The music goes incredibly well with the lyrical content which speaks of something along the lines of confronting loneliness, yet staying optimistic.
About halfway through the album comes “Shoulder to Shoulder” which is also a slower song but this time with much stronger 60s Brazilian and bossa-nova type grooves. The standout part of this one is the melody during the chorus and the lyrics, but it is the weakest track on the album. “With Strangers” is interesting and arguably the most somber on the album. This one also has sparse production, and like many of the other tracks, the backing vocals really add to the ambiance. The sound of this song and the way it builds up sounds to me like it could be a proto version of “Call it Fate, Call it Karma” by The Strokes, which would come out half a decade later.
“Keep Me in Mind” is one of the catchiest songs on the album and one that reminds me most of an early album Strokes song. It utilizes the interlocking guitars that are very prevalent in the strokes music, however this sounds like it is put through a Los Hermanos filter. This is the most “supergroup” sounding song on the album as well. I also enjoy the contrast of the upbeat music on this track to the lyrics where Amarante sings about accepting that his relationship has failed. “How to Hang a Warhol” continues with the upbeat optimistic “summer” sounding songs this one still has a faint Strokes sound but not nearly as much as “Keep Me in Mind.” Something about the second guitar entering on the final verse is so pleasing to me. This is the final upbeat song as the album slowly winds down for the final two tracks.
“Don’t Watch Me Dancing” is the penultimate song and is another one with Shapiro on the lead vocals. This one has a much more longing and melancholic feel to it initially, but as the song fades out it gets larger in production with horns, guitars, backing vocals, and percussion leading to an optimistic ending. That is a consistent choice on the album that I enjoy, where a song is not singularly sad or happy, they are playful and drift from one emotion to the other over the course of a song.
The final track on the album and one of my favorites is “Evaporar.” The album ends with a very lo-fi bare-bones acoustic guitar and vocals track. The song is sung in Portuguese by Amarente and it has an overwhelming nostalgic feeling in a familiar way that songs like “Yesterday” or “In My Life” by the Beatles give off. I love that the album ends in the opposite way it begins, whereas “The next time around” is one of the most upbeat, full production, and sonically joyful sort of like the beginning of summer; “Evaporar” is sparse, nostalgic and gloomy, much like the end of summer.
After listening to this album numerous times over a decade, it is difficult for me to find many faults in the album, however right as you start to get tired of the formula and sound of the album it ends. It reminds me of some King Gizzard albums in that way, where right as the album is about to overstay its welcome, it ends. In many ways, the majority of this album reminds me of a happier more upbeat version of early Beach House. A large part of the album was written by Moretti which is interesting to me because he wrote one of my favorite Strokes songs, an unreleased demo called “Clear Skies,” and after really listening to the song after listening to this album I can see the similarities.
This is an excellent example of a band that only had one project before calling it quits. We can only hope that someday they get the band back together for another session or even just a reunion tour.
7/10 - Good