JOY
are a band whose stylistic agenda is very pure: they live to re-create the sound of some reefer-addled dude's record collection in 1972. And between the buzzy guitar heroics, the deep bubbling bass, and the flanged drum tracks,
not only match their obvious inspirations, they occasionally beat them at their own game. After drafting their statement of purpose with their 2014 debut,
Under the Spell of JOY
, the group is back and once again in powerful form. There isn't a massive degree of creative growth on
's second long-player,
Ride Along!
, but the band does sound notably tighter and hotter this time out.
's attack is no less heavy here, but the songs are a bit shorter and they get to the point with improved speed and precision.
Zachary Oakley
's guitar is full of flash and thunder, but he also riffs with a decisive sense of wah-wah-infused purpose. And the feisty bark of his vocals fits the songs like a tube sock.
Justin Hulson
's animated bass patterns fill their space beautifully, and new drummer
Thomas DiBenedetto
can hit hard while staying limber, rolling and tumbling without losing the backbeat.
's performances on
are busy, but busy with deliberate focus, sending their collective noise-making skills down the highway like a biker gang looking for some scary fun. (They also had the good sense to bring along some like-minded pals for the trip.
Parker Griggs
of
Radio Moscow
and
Brenden Deller
Sacri Monti
join
Oakley
for additional guitar swagger, while
Mario Rubalcaba
from
Earthless
adds his percussion knowhow.) If
isn't necessarily better than
, at the very least it's just as good, and more ambitious too.
may prefer the sounds of the past to the present, but they also have enough skill to have a future in it. In short,
rocks; listen loud and you'll like it. ~ Mark Deming