The Joy Cough - Everything Phallic
Denver pop-punk outfit The Joy Cough released a new EP, called Everything Phallic, near the end of September. And as far as I can tell, it may be their debut EP, simply because their Bandcamp page lists no previous albums, singles, or EPs.
The Joy Cough
In fact, their Bandcamp page, like their Facebook page, is a black hole when it comes to information – a whole lot of zilch, except for the band’s interests: “Rockin' Out and Rockin' In.” And under ‘About’ it says: “Punkity Rock band out of Denver.”
Bandcamp indicates the band is made up of Sunshine (vocals, guitar), Crash (drums, backing vocals), and Zack (bass, guitars, synths), who also produced the EP, while Sunshine is credited as the writer of all the songs.
Interestingly enough, there’s another band called The Joy Coughs (plural), from Wichita, Kansas, also a punk band, but with “hillbilly undertones.”
The Joy Cough delivers uncooked, brutal pop-punk, crusty with cutting edges, ransacking rhythms, and Sunshine’s yummy strident voice.
Everything Phallic contains five-tracks, starting with “Do You Wanna Go?,” a Brit-punk-flavored tune traveling on raw, dirty guitars supported by a thumping rhythm. Sunshine’s voice infuses the band’s music with refreshing tones, being somewhat reminiscent of Axl Rose covering The Clash. It’s a tight, slightly whiny, sneering, rasping voice, which means it’s laced with grandly alluring textures.
“Old Blue” opens on radiant synths and accelerating drums flowing into an ebullient, buoyant groove topped by glowing vocal harmonies. The slapping bassline vibrates deliciously, imbuing the tune with visceral sensibility.
“Trigger Happy Annie” rides thick, growling guitars full of beau coup sonic density, as Sunshine’s mocking timbres give the lyrics rough edginess, simultaneously derisive, snarling, and disdainful.
“Devil’s Refugee” exudes gouging guitars and a teeter-tottering rhythm, full of brawny heftiness. “Waiting For The Sun” opens on a fat bassline flowing into a jagged guitar-filled groove. I love the crunching drums on this track, as well as Sunshine’s marvelously, obnoxiously smirking intonations.
With Everything Phallic, The Joy Cough delivers uncooked, brutal pop-punk, crusty with cutting edges, ransacking rhythms, and Sunshine’s yummy strident voice.
