No Joy
Encyclopedia
No Joy are a Canadian alternative/shoegaze band formed in late 2009 by Jasamine White-Gluz and Laura Lloyd. Jasamine was living in Los Angeles while Laura was living in Montreal. Via e-mail they started collaborating which eventually led to Jasamine's return to Montreal and their first show with Grant Hart
(Hüsker Dü
) on 15 December 2009. The band continued to play locally, including a show with up-and-coming indie band Best Coast
, where lead singer Bethany Cosentino took a liking to the band and tweeted “Dude, No Joy is the best band ever. Two hot blonde girls just shredding away. Sooooo amazing.”
The band soon after signed to Mexican Summer Records and released their first 7" "No Summer" b/w "No Joy". The release of this 7" brought No Joy to book their own national U.S. tour, bringing along La Sera (a Vivian Girls
side project) for a 3 week stint of mostly west coast shows. Around this time, London based label Sexbeat re-released the debut 7" for a UK/European release. No Joy toured later that fall with Mexican Summer labelmates, Dungen
.
The 7" sold out quickly, and 6 months later on 16 Novemer 2010, No Joy released their debut LP, Ghost Blonde to wide critical acclaim; "The guitars, loud enough to obliterate everything within 50 yards, create a balmy atmosphere where lacerating riffs and blurry strumming shares face time with ear-piercing feedback" (Pitchfork Media
). The band shares a strong DIY mentality when it comes to producing and recording their music, stating in an interview with The Stool Pigeon: "You can record anything for free now. If you’ve got a laptop or a friend’s laptop, do it yourself," however they left the mixing side of the project up to The Raveonettes
' Sune Rose Wagner
. On working with Sune, White says "We were recording in our space and it was sounding like shit, so we had the idea of someone helping to clean it up a little bit, but everybody in Montreal was asking for way too much money. And we’ve both always liked the way Raveonettes’ records sound. We exchanged emails a few times and we had the exact same music tastes, so it just went from there" . The final package "convincingly captures the gloriously fuzzy, effects-covered sound of the shoegaze era, but escapes being mere copycats by adding a wonderfully spooky atmosphere and by writing hooky, easy to swallow melodies", a 4.5 star review from AllMusic.
The praise for Ghost Blonde, and their notoriously loud and hypnotizing live act, garnered attention notable publications such as The New York Times
, Pitchfork Media
, Brooklyn Vegan, and The Guardian
amongst others. In early 2011 No Joy released the single "Hawaii" on a UK 7" with a B side consisting of a remix of the song "Indigo Child" done by Stereolab
's Tim Gane
.
No Joy toured the U.K. in early 2011 with Florida band Surfer Blood
, their first stint overseas, and returned back to the U.K. a month later to start a tour that would bring them across Europe while touching base at Barcelona's prestigious San Miguel Primavera Sound. On this tour the band played a celebrated London show with post-punk veterans Wire
. Immediate upon return from their European tour, the band flew directly to SXSW where they played an impressive 9 shows showcasing for publications such as Pitchfork Media
, The AV Club, Gorilla vs. Bear
, and others.
The rest of 2011 saw more North American touring for No Joy, supporting Vivian Girls
, and a co-headline with Marnie Stern
. As of now the band are taking a break to focus on their next LP.
a. "No Summer" - 4:11
b. "No Joy" - 4:32
No Summer 7" (Sexbeat Records)
a. "No Summer"
b. "No Joy"
Ghost Blonde LP (Mexican Summer Records)
1. "Mediumship" - 3:27
2. "Heedless" - 3:21
3. "Maggie Says I Love You" 3:35
4. "You Girls Smoke Cigarettes?" - 2:19
5. "Pacific Pride" - 3:39
6. "Hawaii" - 4:05
7. "Indigo Child" - 5:10
8. "Still" - 3:42
9. "Untitled" - 1:32
10. "Ghost Blonde" - 6:29
Hawaii 7" (Mexican Summer Records UK release only)
a. "Hawaii"
b. "Indigo Child (Stereolab remix"
No Joy / Marnie Stern
split tour 7"
No Joy - "He Cried" (Shangri-Las cover)
Marnie Stern
- "Your Kids Are Going To Love This"
Grant Hart
Grant Hart is an American musician, best known as the drummer and co-songwriter for the influential alternative rock and hardcore punk band Hüsker Dü. After the band's breakup in 1987, Hart formed the alternative rock trio Nova Mob, where he moved to vocals and guitar...
(Hüsker Dü
Hüsker Dü
Hüsker Dü was an American rock band formed in Saint Paul, Minnesota in 1979. The band's continual members were guitarist Bob Mould, bassist Greg Norton, and drummer Grant Hart....
) on 15 December 2009. The band continued to play locally, including a show with up-and-coming indie band Best Coast
Best Coast
Best Coast is an American indie rock band based in Los Angeles, California, and is often categorized under the subgenres of garage rock, surf pop, and lo-fi. The band currently consists of Bethany Cosentino, who writes all of the band's songs and fronts the group, multi-instrumentalist Bobb Bruno, ...
, where lead singer Bethany Cosentino took a liking to the band and tweeted “Dude, No Joy is the best band ever. Two hot blonde girls just shredding away. Sooooo amazing.”
The band soon after signed to Mexican Summer Records and released their first 7" "No Summer" b/w "No Joy". The release of this 7" brought No Joy to book their own national U.S. tour, bringing along La Sera (a Vivian Girls
Vivian Girls
Vivian Girls are an American band from Brooklyn, New York.- History :Vivian Girls, named after the magnum opus of outsider author Henry Darger, started in Brooklyn, NY in March 2007 as the trio of Cassie Ramone ; Katy "Kickball Katy" Goodman; and Frankie Rose...
side project) for a 3 week stint of mostly west coast shows. Around this time, London based label Sexbeat re-released the debut 7" for a UK/European release. No Joy toured later that fall with Mexican Summer labelmates, Dungen
Dungen
Dungen is a Swedish rock band based in Stockholm. Often classified as progg or psychedelic rock, Dungen is also influenced by Swedish folk music, classic rock, progressive rock, garage rock and alternative rock....
.
The 7" sold out quickly, and 6 months later on 16 Novemer 2010, No Joy released their debut LP, Ghost Blonde to wide critical acclaim; "The guitars, loud enough to obliterate everything within 50 yards, create a balmy atmosphere where lacerating riffs and blurry strumming shares face time with ear-piercing feedback" (Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
). The band shares a strong DIY mentality when it comes to producing and recording their music, stating in an interview with The Stool Pigeon: "You can record anything for free now. If you’ve got a laptop or a friend’s laptop, do it yourself," however they left the mixing side of the project up to The Raveonettes
The Raveonettes
The Raveonettes are a Danish indie rock duo, consisting of Sune Rose Wagner on guitar, instruments, and vocals, and Sharin Foo on bass, guitar and vocals...
' Sune Rose Wagner
Sune Rose Wagner
Sune Rose Wagner is the songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist for noise pop duo, The Raveonettes. Previously, he was part of the band Psyched Up Janis. He currently resides in NYC....
. On working with Sune, White says "We were recording in our space and it was sounding like shit, so we had the idea of someone helping to clean it up a little bit, but everybody in Montreal was asking for way too much money. And we’ve both always liked the way Raveonettes’ records sound. We exchanged emails a few times and we had the exact same music tastes, so it just went from there" . The final package "convincingly captures the gloriously fuzzy, effects-covered sound of the shoegaze era, but escapes being mere copycats by adding a wonderfully spooky atmosphere and by writing hooky, easy to swallow melodies", a 4.5 star review from AllMusic.
The praise for Ghost Blonde, and their notoriously loud and hypnotizing live act, garnered attention notable publications such as The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
, Brooklyn Vegan, and The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
amongst others. In early 2011 No Joy released the single "Hawaii" on a UK 7" with a B side consisting of a remix of the song "Indigo Child" done by Stereolab
Stereolab
Stereolab are an alternative music band formed in 1990 in London, England. The band originally comprised songwriting team Tim Gane and Lætitia Sadier , both of whom remained at the helm across many lineup changes...
's Tim Gane
Tim Gane
Tim Gane is the leader of the rock band, Stereolab.He started his musical career as a purveyor of harsh noise in the early 1980s under the alias Unkommuniti releasing self financed cassettes on Black Dwarf Wreckordings along with fellow Unkommuniti members Kallous Boys and other noise projects....
.
No Joy toured the U.K. in early 2011 with Florida band Surfer Blood
Surfer Blood
Surfer Blood is an indie rock band from West Palm Beach, Florida, signed to Warner Bros. Records. The band has four members: John Paul Pitts , Thomas Fekete , Kevin Williams and Tyler Jerry "TJ" Schwarz .Founding members John Paul Pitts and Tyler Schwarz originally didn't like each other in high...
, their first stint overseas, and returned back to the U.K. a month later to start a tour that would bring them across Europe while touching base at Barcelona's prestigious San Miguel Primavera Sound. On this tour the band played a celebrated London show with post-punk veterans Wire
Wire (band)
Wire are an English rock band, formed in London in October 1976 by Colin Newman , Graham Lewis , Bruce Gilbert , and Robert Gotobed...
. Immediate upon return from their European tour, the band flew directly to SXSW where they played an impressive 9 shows showcasing for publications such as Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
, The AV Club, Gorilla vs. Bear
Gorilla vs. Bear
Gorilla vs. Bear is a leading mp3 blog for independent music MP3s, videos, news, and reviews from all genres. It was created by Chris Cantalini in March 2005, and David Bartholow joined as a contributor in 2006. Gorilla vs. Bear regularly features unknown, established, and independent unsigned...
, and others.
The rest of 2011 saw more North American touring for No Joy, supporting Vivian Girls
Vivian Girls
Vivian Girls are an American band from Brooklyn, New York.- History :Vivian Girls, named after the magnum opus of outsider author Henry Darger, started in Brooklyn, NY in March 2007 as the trio of Cassie Ramone ; Katy "Kickball Katy" Goodman; and Frankie Rose...
, and a co-headline with Marnie Stern
Marnie Stern
Marnie Stern is an American musician, songwriter, and guitarist. She has garnered acclaim for her technical skill and tapping style of guitar play.- Musical career :...
. As of now the band are taking a break to focus on their next LP.
Discography
No Summer 7" (Mexican Summer Records)a. "No Summer" - 4:11
b. "No Joy" - 4:32
No Summer 7" (Sexbeat Records)
a. "No Summer"
b. "No Joy"
Ghost Blonde LP (Mexican Summer Records)
1. "Mediumship" - 3:27
2. "Heedless" - 3:21
3. "Maggie Says I Love You" 3:35
4. "You Girls Smoke Cigarettes?" - 2:19
5. "Pacific Pride" - 3:39
6. "Hawaii" - 4:05
7. "Indigo Child" - 5:10
8. "Still" - 3:42
9. "Untitled" - 1:32
10. "Ghost Blonde" - 6:29
Hawaii 7" (Mexican Summer Records UK release only)
a. "Hawaii"
b. "Indigo Child (Stereolab remix"
No Joy / Marnie Stern
Marnie Stern
Marnie Stern is an American musician, songwriter, and guitarist. She has garnered acclaim for her technical skill and tapping style of guitar play.- Musical career :...
split tour 7"
No Joy - "He Cried" (Shangri-Las cover)
Marnie Stern
Marnie Stern
Marnie Stern is an American musician, songwriter, and guitarist. She has garnered acclaim for her technical skill and tapping style of guitar play.- Musical career :...
- "Your Kids Are Going To Love This"