I remember buying Analphabetapolothology by Cap’n Jazz on a whim while I was still in high school. The unhinged, off-the-rails sound of Cap’n Jazz was unlike anything I’d heard before. The lyrics locked in with my high school mind and the raw energy of the band was exciting. From there I ventured into the members projects after Cap’n Jazz. I loved the Owls EP, most of American Football, some Owen, and the like, but Joan of Arc was a difficult band to get into.
One day on my way to study in the library during my freshman year of college I picked up The Gap. For some reason it just made sense. The weirdness and feigned difficulty made sense. When Joan of Arc, Dick Cheney, Mark Twain came out I felt Joan of Arc had reached their highest point. It was an album that contained the experimental nature of their earlier releases while infusing a pop sensibility they hadn’t previously achieved.
However, their musical output after JoA, DC, MT seemed really subdued. The two albums preceding Flowers were a little too mellow to really catch on with me as JoA releases. Sure there were some good songs, but overall I was left feeling indifferent about their new musical direction.
Fast forward to 2009. With the release of Flowers Joan of Arc has definitely hit their stride again. This album picks up where JoA, DC, MT left off while bringing back some aspects of their earlier albums. The synthesizers of opening song, “Fogbow,” instantly recall some of their experiments on A Portable Model Of but seem fresh and exciting.
Flowers is a step forward for Joan of Arc, recalling the best of their past releases while forging a new (and exciting) path for the band to take in future releases. Once again I am excited to be a Joan of Arc fan.
