CD of The Week

The Joy Formidable - Hitch (C’mon Let’s Drift / Caroline)

Welsh trio The Joy Formidable have been living up to their name now for more than half a decade. Singer/guitarist Ritzy Bryan is able to summon joyfulness in the intense power of her guitar playing while the full band’s powerful sound is truly formidable. It’s no coincidence their debut album was called The Big Roar. The band just released their third album Hitch, and as much as I’d like it to be, it is not a concept album about the Will Smith-Kevin James 2005 comedy (unless the lyrical themes are really obtuse). Actually, much of lyrics were inspired by the romantic split between Bryan and bassist Rhydian Dafydd.

The Joy Formidable waste no time by kicking off Hitch with “A Second in White.” You’ll recognize their dense sound and Bryan’s voice right from the get-go. There is some great, intricate guitar work on “Radio of Lips,” while drummer Matt Thomas channels Jimmy Chamberlin with the Smashing Pumpkins-esque intro to “It’s Started.” The sweeping strings and acoustic guitars on “The Brook” give a widescreen scope to the expansive track. The scale of the band’s ambitions doesn’t always hit the mark, as “Underneath the Petal” aims for the classic rock of Led Zeppelin before a flute shows up to make it more Jethro Tull.

This is also a long album full of long songs. If you’re into that whole brevity thing, TJF records might not be for you. Lead single “You’re the Last Thing on My Mind” stretches out to over six minutes on the record. And album closer “Don’t Let Me Know” opens as an acoustic, coffeehouse song before bursting wide open halfway through its seven-and-a-half minute runtime.

Overall, Hitch is big on sound but often a bit too low on hooks. The band sounds great and the quieter flourishes around the edges further add to their palate beyond their massive wall of rock. Bring some earplugs when The Joy Formidable play Underground Arts on April 15th, because it will get loud.

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Review by Joey O.