Joan Of Arc: Life Like

Joan Of Arc
Life Like
Polyvinyl Records [2011]









Fire Note Says: Joan Of Arc create one of their most raw records to date!

Album Review:
The almost 11 minute opening track, "I Saw The Messed Blinds Of My Generation" is a "welcome back" to the simpler life for Chicago's Joan Of Arc and frontman Tim Kinsella. It drops the electronic beats of their more recent releases and does not seek much outside help, as Life Like relies on the four members to create the records raw sound. Producer Steve Albini also helps with this much more live to tape sound and Life Like is the first Joan Of Arc release to reunite Kinsella with his longtime guitar buddy and previous band mate in Cap'n Jazz, Victor Villarreal. Villarreal has an immediate impact on the Joan Of Arc material and brings a musical tightness forward that most bands would die for. You also sense that Kinsella is completely comfortable sharing the spotlight with Villarreal because Life Like is totally guitar driven with vocals filling in the gaps. Joan Of Arc always were wrapped in the emo tag but one listen to Life Like and you won't even remember what made the genre in the first place because Joan Of Arc hits the sweet balance on Life Like and then takes off with some of the most memorable guitar work you will lay your ears on this year!

Key Tracks: "Love Life", "Howdy Pardoner", "Deep State"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Karate
Pavement
Braid

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Polyvinyl Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony