Chicago trio joyful. outdid themselves last year with their third single, “Pilot Light”. They have returned in 2021 to up the ante even more with their newest release “Alive”.
“Alive” has an anthemic quality to it that makes me long for simpler times at 90’s rock shows. At the risk of aging myself, I have to say the chorus reminds me a lot of Foo Fighters. The band have a sound similar to All Time Low with high energy and infectious melodies.
This single shows the band delving into more radio friendly territory while still maintaining their individuality.
To celebrate the release of this new single, joyful. has given us some insight into the bands who inspire them by counting down their Top 10 Favorite Albums:
Will’s Picks:
Mew- Frengers
“Contains fun & interesting grooves in odd time signatures, dream pop layers/pads, and raunchy guitar/bass riffs. An album that keeps you wanting more and more. Cannot just listen to 1 song without wanting to check out more.”
The Academy Is…- Santi
“I was getting an eye exam around sixth or seventh grade when I first learned about The Academy Is… . The owner (I think?) of the place was the stepdad of the bassist. I think TAI was on tour at the time and he asked if I wanted to get on the guest list for a show in the city or something like that. I was too nervous and did not do it, but since then I have loved TAI very much. Santi is one of my favorites.”
The Killers- Hot Fuss
“Hit after hit. Makes me reminisce. I used to listen to this record a lot. Bass is great, love Brandon Flowers, the writing, all of it… it is such a great album.”
Andy’s Picks:
Jim Post- I Love My Life
“It’s hard to know where to start with this album. I actually own this record and have worn the needle playing this one. From the songwriting to the album cover this record is majestic! The wordplay used keeps me striving as a lyric writer. My favorite track here is is “Stanley And Henry.”
Malice Mizer- Merveilles
“This is a genius representation of the visual kei genre. The originality within the composition is something that astounded me when I first listened and the genre blending throughout still has me in awe over two decades later. Sonically this album has inspired me to consistently try to push myself. There are too many favorites tracks to list here but if you approach this album with an open mind you might just find yourself being dragged into an underworld carnival.”
Diljit Dosanjh- The Next Level
“This first album is a impressive work that displays masterful writing and timeless production. Released in 2009 this record sports classics such as “Panga” and “Ru Ba Ru.” Diljit’s vocal performance throughout is truly inspirational. My favorite track is “Los Angelas(La).”
Jake’s Picks:
Jimmy Eat World- Futures
“When it comes to writing songs in this band, I can’t really think of a a record that’s had a bigger impact on us than Futures. Every single song is incredible. A flawless classic.”
Biffy Clyro- Opposites
“We’ve all been huge fans of Biffy Clyro for years. As a trio, it’s so inspiring to listen to a band like them and hear how big a three piece band can truly sound. Among all their albums, Opposites is definitely a favorite. Songs like “Black Chandelier” and “Different People” on this record really showcase the incredible songwriting of Biffy Clyro.”
The Story So Far- What You Don’t See
“From an engineering standpoint, it doesn’t get much better than What You Don’t See. It’s such a great mix of that aggressive, in your face punk sound while at the same time being a perfectly balanced and polished album. When this first came out in 2013 I had it on nonstop.”
Taking Back Sunday- Louder Now
“As I’m writing this, I realized that Louder Now will be turning 15 this year which is pretty crazy to think about. Listening to today, it still sounds so fresh, like it could have come out yesterday. The guitar sounds on this record are something we constantly look to for inspiration. As incredible as Louder Now is instrumentally, the vocal work of Adam and Fred is what really puts this album in a league of its own.”
Listen to joyful.’s new single, “Alive”:
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