Content (Joywave album)

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Content
Studio album by
Joywave
ReleasedJuly 28, 2017 (2017-07-28)
Recorded2016 in Bloomfield, New York
Genre
Length40:16
Label
Producer
  • Daniel Armbruster
  • Sean Donnelly
Joywave chronology
Swish
(2016) 		Content
(2017) 		Possession
(2020)
Singles from Content
  1. "Content"
    Released: April 20, 2017
  2. "It's a Trip!"
    Released: May 11, 2017
  3. "Shutdown"
    Released: June 1, 2017
  4. "Doubt"
    Released: June 15, 2017
  5. "Going to a Place"
    Released: July 6, 2017

Content (pronounced /kənˈtɛnt/)[2] is the second studio album by American indie rock band Joywave, released through Cultco Music and Hollywood Records on July 28, 2017.[3] The album is a follow-up to the band's debut full-length, How Do You Feel Now?, which was released in 2015. It was co-produced by band members Daniel Armbruster and Sean Donnelly and was recorded during 2016.[4] Ahead of the album's release, five singles were released to promote the album: "Content", "It's a Trip!", "Shutdown", "Doubt", and "Going to a Place".

Background and recording[edit]

Joywave previously released How Do You Feel Now?, their debut album, in 2015.[5] Following up the record, the band began recording a new album in 2016.[4] Content was recorded in a four-month span at a barn in Bloomfield, New York, 45 minutes away from the band's hometown of Rochester.[2][6] Paul Brenner, the band's drummer, regarded the barn as a "very open space" that let the band create "natural sounds and tones". The drums on the record were recorded late at night, due to the microphones picking up outside noises, such as traffic. Though the band had used samples of Disney films while creating How Do You Feel Now?, the band chose not to use as such samples for Content.[6] Production was done by band members Daniel Armbruster and Sean Donnelly and mixing was done by Rich Costey.[7]

Promotion and release[edit]

Prior to the album's release, there were five songs from the album that were released for streaming. "Content" was released on April 20, 2017,[8] "It's a Trip!" was released on May 11,[9] "Shutdown" was released on June 1,[10] "Doubt" was released on June 15,[11] and "Going to a Place" was released on July 6.[12] Joywave performed songs from Content at an album release party held at First Federal Plaza in Rochester.[13] The album was released through Cultco Music and Hollywood Records. The digital download and CD versions were released on July 28.[3][14] The vinyl release of the album was released on September 15.[15][16][17]

Reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[15]
Pitchfork5.9/10[16]
Under the Radar7/10[1]

The album received mixed reviews when it was initially released. In his review for AllMusic, Neil Z. Yeung favorably compared it to the band's debut album by claiming that, "While How Do You Feel Now? managed to be a strong collection of catchy tunes, it was nonetheless quite similar to the output of many other contemporary synth rock outfits. On Content, the band focuses on mood and atmosphere, playing with space and exercising restraint for maximum effect."[15] Stephen Mayne's review for Under the Radar was also complimentary, proclaiming that "quick switches, mixing styles and changing tempo, make Content so fascinating. It's the work of a band full of ideas, confident enough to throw them all together and accomplished enough to pull it off."[1]

However the review by Saby Reyes-Kulkarni at Pitchfork was more divisive in its evaluation of the album. Reyes-Kulkarni claimed that frontman Daniel Armbruster "isn't so much a ghost in the machine as a helpless presence unable to stand up to his own music", and concluded by stating that "If Content's songs are to be taken at face value, it's hard not to have your doubts."[16]

Track listing[edit]

All tracks are written by Daniel Armbruster, Joseph Morinelli, Paul Brenner, Sean Donnelly, and Benjamin Bailey

Content[3]
No.TitleLength
1."Content"4:28
2."Shutdown"3:42
3."It's a Trip!"3:03
4."Rumors"3:48
5."Confidence"0:48
6."Doubt"3:45
7."Going to a Place"5:56
8."Little Lies You're Told"3:18
9."When You're Bored"3:13
10."Thanks. Thanks for Coming"3:43
11."Let's Talk About Feelings"4:32
Total length:40:16

Personnel[edit]

Joywave

  • Daniel Armbruster – vocals, programming, arrangement, production, engineering, recording arrangement (all tracks); guitar (3, 4, 6, 8), piano (5), flute (7)
  • Joseph Morinelli – guitar (2, 3, 6, 9)
  • Paul Brenner – drums (1–3, 6–11)
  • Sean Donnelly – programming, arrangement (all tracks); guitar (1, 3, 7, 8), alto saxophone (2–4, 6–10), art direction
  • Benjamin Bailey – piano (11), art direction

Additional personnel

  • Gentry Studer – mastering
  • Rich Costey – mixing
  • Martin Cooke – mixing assistance, engineering assistance
  • Nicolas Fournier – mixing assistance, engineering assistance
  • Arjun Baxter – upright bass (11)
  • Alex Trochut – art direction, design
  • Enny Joo – art direction

Charts[edit]

Chart (2017) Peak
position
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[18] 8

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Mayne, Stephen (July 27, 2017). "Joywave: Content (Hollywood/Cultco) Review". Under the Radar. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  2. ^ a b LeDonne, Rob (July 31, 2017). "Joywave Reveal Correct Pronunciation of New Album 'Content,' Talk Hometown Loyalty". Billboard. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c "Content by Joywave". United States: iTunes Store. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  4. ^ a b Joywave [@joywave] (August 24, 2016). "Recording. Week 3. Your inside look into #LP2" (Tweet). Retrieved January 9, 2020 – via Twitter.
  5. ^ "How Do You Feel Now? by Joywave". United States: iTunes Store. 21 April 2015. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
  6. ^ a b Menjivar, Brittany (July 18, 2017). "Interview: Paul Brenner of Joywave". The Young Folks. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  7. ^ "Content / Joywave". Tidal. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  8. ^ "Content by Joywave". United States: YouTube. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  9. ^ "It's a Trip by Joywave". United States: YouTube. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  10. ^ "Shutdown by Joywave". United States: YouTube. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  11. ^ "Doubt by Joywave". United States: YouTube. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  12. ^ "Going to a Place by Joywave". United States: YouTube. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  13. ^ Spevak, Jeff (July 28, 2017). "Joywave 'Content' in downtown flying saucer for album release party". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  14. ^ "Joywave: Content CD". Cultco Music. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  15. ^ a b c Yeung, Neil Z. "Content – Joywave". AllMusic. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  16. ^ a b c Reyes-Kulkarni, Saby (August 4, 2017). "Joywave: Content". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  17. ^ "Joywave: Content Vinyl LP". Cultco Music. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  18. ^ "Joywave Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
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