Review: Mt. Joy goes to next level
Mt. Joy releases Rearrange Us, which exceeds expectations the band's debut album created
When they released their eponymous debut album in 2018, Mt. Joy received the kind of response many bands can only dream of for their first trip out of the gate.
Billboard called the album “a major breakthrough”, while Rolling Stone called them “your new folk-rock heroes”.
The record netted them opening spots with Whitney, The Lumineers and the Head and The Heart.
And their single, Silver Linings, landed the No. 1 spot on AAA Radio and was certified gold.
While it’s gratifying for a band to see its hard work so well-recognized, success can sometimes be a double-edged sword because it creates high expectations for the next record.
Some acts fail to live up to those expectations, hence the much-dreaded tag of sophomore jinx.
But that’s certainly not the case with Mt. Joy’s muchanticipated second release, Rearrange Us, which not only lives up to the expectations the band’s debut created but exceeds them on virtually every level.
Recorded at Flora Recording & Playback in Portland, Ore., the new record was produced by Tucker Martine who has helmed records for one of my favourite acts, My Morning Jacket, as well as The Decemberists, Modest Mouse and Swedish folk duo, First Aid Kit.
Rearrange Us is a borderline brilliant record, one that still embraces elements of the indie folk rock sound that attracted people to the first record but also sees Mt. Joy’s principal songwriter, Matt Quinn, draw on a number of other sources for his musical inspiration.
At various points in the record you’ll find rootsy indie rock and New Orleans-flavoured soul, along with funk, gospel flavourings and psychedelic musings that remind me of Fillmore-era Grateful Dead. It’s a very engaging mix, one you can easily get lost in at times. But they always bring you back with something that makes you sit up and take notice.
The material Quinn penned for this set is centred around mindfulness, self-improvement and psychology, addressing themes like mortality, overcoming emotional and mental struggles and allowing yourself to be open to new things, new people and new directions.
The promise Quinn displayed as a songwriter on that first record is fully realized on Rearrange Us. I look forward to seeing where he takes things from here.
Quinn and guitarist Sam Cooper, bassist Michael Byrnes, drummer Sotiris Eliopoulos and keyboardist Jackie Miclau have delivered one of my top 10 records of 2020 thus far.
Choice offerings on this Dualtone Records release include Witness, Come With Me, Have Faith, Acrobats, Death and the title track, Rearrange Us.
(Rating: 3 ½ out of 5 stars)
Doug Gallant is a freelance writer and well-known connoisseur of a wide variety of music. His On Track column will appear in The Guardian every second Thursday. To comment on what he has to say or to offer suggestions for future reviews, email him at dpagallant@gmail.com.