Cleanse (album)
| Cleanse | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | February 11, 2022 | |||
| Studio | The Joycave (Rochester, New York) | |||
| Length | 35:19 | |||
| Label |
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| Producer | Daniel Armbruster | |||
| Joywave chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Cleanse | ||||
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Cleanse is the fourth studio album by American indie rock band Joywave. It was released February 11, 2022 through Cultco Music and Hollywood Records. Four singles were released prior to the album: "After Coffee", "Every Window is a Mirror", "Cyn City 2000", and "Buy American". The EP Every Window is a Mirror was also released prior to the album on June 25, 2021. It contained "After Coffee" and "Every Window is a Mirror", as well as two new songs: "Pray for the Reboot" and "The Inversion".
Background and composition
[edit]Joywave's third studio album, Possession, was released on March 13, 2020, amidst a wave of lockdowns at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to frontman Daniel Armbruster, he initially fought the idea of writing any new music during the pandemic, but eventually returned to recording in his home studio. "Reminded of my own mortality by every headline, I began to think about the things I’d want someone to know about me or what advice I’d want to leave behind if this record was the last thing I got to share with the world.” [1] Armbruster also said the album focused on just the ten songs he wrote in response to the pandemic, in contrast to previous albums, which would be compiled from dozens of tracks written over a year or two.[2]
The lyrics of most tracks on the album relate to Armbruster's self-reflections during 2020. The opening track, Pray for the Reboot, was written in response to polarization on social media. Other tracks, including Cyn City 2000 and We Are All We Need, reject an attitude of cynicism or perceived failure in response to the pandemic and promote gratitude.[2]
Promotion and release
[edit]The single "After Coffee" was released on March 19, 2021.[3] The band released "Every Window is a Mirror" on May 7, and announced they were reuniting in-person to continue working in a press release.[4] On June 25, the Every Window is a Mirror EP was released, containing the previous two tracks and two additional songs, "Pray for the Reboot" and "The Inversion".[5]
Joywave performed their first live show in support of the Every Window is a Mirror EP on September 3, 2021, at BottleRock Napa Valley.[6]
On October 29, 2021, Joywave released the single "Cyn City 2000". The same day, the band announced the full track listing for Cleanse and the release date of February 11, 2022.[7] Dates for a North American tour were announced, which ran from February 26 to April 8, 2022.[8]
Reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [9] |
Cleanse received positive reception from critics. In a review for AllMusic, Neil Z. Yeung wrote, "The result is a mature and melodic work, one that's both as catchy as anything they've done in the past and softens their typical edge for a more soothing and encouraging experience."[9] Writing for PopMatters, Saby Reyes-Kulkarni called the album "their most moving work yet" and wrote, "Armbruster and company have long been able to dial-up previous pop eras at the touch of a button. With Cleanse, though, they rise above the mechanical mimicry that’s stifled them in the past. This time, Joywave synthesize a slew of dance-pop touchstones—from classic Tears for Fears to LCD Soundsystem and beyond—into a fresh sound that brims with life."[10]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by Daniel Armbruster[9]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Pray for the Reboot" | 3:44 |
| 2. | "Buy American" | 3:22 |
| 3. | "Every Window Is a Mirror" | 2:53 |
| 4. | "Cyn City 2000" | 3:11 |
| 5. | "After Coffee" | 3:16 |
| 6. | "We Are All We Need" | 3:29 |
| 7. | "Goodbye Tommy" | 4:00 |
| 8. | "The Inversion" | 3:52 |
| 9. | "Why Would You Want to Be Young Again?" | 3:46 |
| 10. | "Have You Ever Lit a Year on Fire?" | 3:42 |
| Total length: | 35:19 | |
References
[edit]- ^ Fu, Eddie (11 February 2022). "Joywave Break Down New Album Cleanse Track by Track: Exclusive". Consequence. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
- ^ a b Kozlowski, Anthony (18 February 2022). "Interview: Joywave Wash, Rinse, and Start Fresh on New Album 'Cleanse'". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
- ^ "Joywave releases "After Coffee"". Hollywood Records. 19 March 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
- ^ "Joywave Releases "Every Window Is A Mirror"". Hollywood Records. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
- ^ "JOYWAVE RELEASES "EVERY WINDOW IS A MIRROR" EP". Hollywood Records. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
- ^ DeWald, Mike (1 September 2021). "INTERVIEW: Joywave pushes forward to a post-pandemic 'Cleanse'". RIFF Magazine. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
- ^ "JOYWAVE TO RELEASE 4TH STUDIO ALBUM CLEANSE FEBRUARY 11, 2022". Hollywood Records. 29 October 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
- ^ Robinson, Ellie (2 November 2021). "Joywave drop new single 'Cyn City 2000', detail fourth album 'Cleanse'". NME. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
- ^ a b c Yeung, Neil Z. "Cleanse - Joywave". Allmusic. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
- ^ Reyes-Kulkarni, Saby (7 March 2022). "Joywave: Cleanse (Album Review)". PopMatters. Retrieved 28 December 2024.