Joy Formidable

The Joy Formidable Give Us The Slip

noah | October 6, 2009 11:00 am
noah | October 6, 2009 11:00 am


Here’s the thing about music in 2009: You can truly love a band, but still be what might be considered fairly behind on what, exactly, they’ve been up to. Take the Welsh trio the Joy Formidable, who have one of my favorite records of the year; I’m just now finding out now that the clamorous outfit put out a new single, the pummeling “Greyhounds In The Slips,” right around Labor Day. (It’s available for download on their MySpace page, and those people who used to mainline UK mags’ record recommendations at the end of the last century will be interested to know that the track features Paul Draper, formerly of the Britpop-heyday outfit Mansun, on vocals.) More »


The Joy Formidable Is Giving It All Away

noah | February 12, 2009 2:45 am
noah | February 12, 2009 2:45 am

Proof that sometimes the NME can make me forgive their hyperbolic ways: The British music magazine is offering a free download of A Balloon Called Moaning, the forthcoming album from the Welsh band the Joy Formidable. The album by the noise-pop outfit, who I have raved about on this site before, is out in physical form Monday (and obviously, worth buying as a thank you for this generous gesture). If you want to see why this is one of today’s best developments—if not the No. 1 piece of news I’ve heard since I woke up this morning—check the video for the incredibly ebullient “Cradle” after the jump.

More »


This Week’s Top 12: Remixed Gallaghers, R & B Royalty, And (Surprise!) Ida Maria

noah | January 16, 2009 4:45 am
noah | January 16, 2009 4:45 am

Welcome to the inaugural version of The Idolator Dozen, our new weekly countdown of notable-slash-positive happenings in the music world as decided by me. To answer your questions: “Why?”; “Ranking things is fun, duh.” “Why 12?”; “Because I like the number, and always have.” “What’s on the list?”; “Whatever I say, plus maybe a few things that I neglected to get to during the week.” “Why now?”; “Why not now?” “When will then be now?”; “Soon.” The top 12 after the jump!

More »



noah | January 14, 2009 4:30 am
noah | January 14, 2009 4:30 am

So I left Radio 1 on after Damon Albarn’s pretty… More »


The Joy Formidable: The UK Buzz Band Pick Of The Hour

Dan Gibson | January 6, 2009 11:00 am
Dan Gibson | January 6, 2009 11:00 am

I barely know whether to trust my instincts when it comes to whatever British act Radio 1 is going on and on about anymore, since I’ve been burned so many times before. Sure, it’s exciting to jump on the bandwagon when an act is on their second single, but then the album comes out or Pete Doherty joins the group onstage and it’s all ruined. Anyhow, in that seemingly never-ending sequence, we have the Welsh act known as the Joy Formidable. Who knows whether the enjoyment I’m deriving from the two songs after the jump will last, but for now, the band reminds me of a simpler time when Belly was a big deal.

More »


Page 1 of 1