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The Joy Formidable

The Big Roar

Review by Kat Heitzman

This London based alternative rock band has a lot going on with a multitude of different sounds coming from this CD. There is definitely some great lyric writing here. It is truly poetic. No matter what song on this CD, Ritzy Bryan’s voice oozes her passion and at times becomes a part of the music.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2012  Volume 2 at lulu.com/strangesound.

Track by Track Review
The Everchanging Spectrum of A Lie
This song begins like someone is rummaging through the garage throwing stuff this way and that, and then it transitions into a heavy bass sounding melody. A song about love, this has some very powerful lyrics that hold true to so many. Ritzy Bryan’s voice is so pure and my only complaint is the music overwhelms her voice.
The Magnifying Glass
This song is the first one I heard from the Internet and made me want to review this CD. If I had to compare it I would say the music and vocal mix reminds me of the GoGo’s .
Don’t Want To See You Like This

"Don’t Want To See You Like This" starts with a cool fade in. The drums play a huge part in defining this song. There are a lot of cool parts to this song and it is ever changing.

Austere

There are a lot of different sounds going on here. It includes a backup singer track that plays throughout the song.  It is a musical feast, as you cannot be bored while listening to this tune.

A Heavy Abacus

This track has a heavy intro and then the ethereal voice of Bryan comes through singing about the abacus haunting her. This has a kind of groovy sound with a little distortion that gives it hit potential.

Whirring

The drums in this song remind me once again of the GoGos era and that style of music, but with a twist of its own sound that makes it unique.  It is only the base sound that reminds me of that group. This band is much more complex musically.

Buoy
While this is one of the slower songs on this CD it does not lack some cool guitar and lyrics.
(Maruyama)

This one is a very short kind of a soft chanting.

Cradle

I can see this song becoming a part of a soundtrack. It has a very sing along quality. All of the members of this band work together to make this a phenomenal number and definitely my favorite on this CD.

Llaw=Wall

The intro to this one has some very unique music to it. Is that an organ I hear?

Chapter 2

A good deal of distortion also has its place in this tune, and it sounds very cool with the femininity of Bryan’s voice mixed with the guitar riffs.

The Greatest Light is the Greatest Shade
This is a very catchy song that has a fairy tale quality feel. The music makes you listen but her voice draws you in.
 
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