Search - Joy Electric :: Tick Tock Treasury

Tick Tock Goes the Melody...

Kris Avalon | So. CAL | 04/01/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As a longtime follower of Joy Electric, I had high hopes for "The Tick Tock Treasury," Ronnie Martin's sixth full-length album under the JE name. I can say one thing for certain: he is nothing if not consistent, and I mean that as a compliment to the music. Joy Electric can hardly be compared to any one band, at least in my personal observations. There are elements of New Wave and Electronica, but Joy Electric must be heard to be understood. It is a crisp, electronic sound, consisting of analog synthesizers and the high tenor, falsetto voice of Ronnie Martin (in his own words, there are no drum machines, samplers, traditional instruments, etc; the sound is completely pure). Since 1993, Joy Electric has maintained their signature sound while offering fresh perspectives on the chord progressions that have made them legends in the hearts of their diehard fans. "The Tick Tock Treasury" (Legacy Volume 2) carries on this tradition beautifully. The album begins with the title track and follows with "Misfortune's Apprentice." Both songs represent the melodic innocence and joy reminiscent of such JE classics as "Strawberry Heart" and "Storybook Love." They are arranged with common three-chord progressions that suggest happiness and serenity, though "Misfortune's Apprentice" is anything but joyful. The juxtaposition of cheerful notes and dismal lyrics is nothing new for Martin, as anyone with the "Melody" album is well aware. This dichotomy is far from contradictory, however. It represents hope amid despair, and a longing for childlike innocence in a cynical adult world. For this reason, "Misfortune's Apprentice" is one of my favorite songs on the album, and I was deeply moved by it. My favorite song overall, however, is "(I Am) Made From the Wires." The melody is a bit on the darker side, and resembles songs like "Disco For a Ride," which, if played loud enough, sounds like the perfect club song. Despite the cheery melodies of "The Tick Treasury" and "Misfortune's Apprentice" (and, to a lesser extent, "The Blueprints for Joy," another favorite of mine), the uniqueness of this album is in its predomination of darker melodies. Songs like "(Play Each Note) By Metronome," "J.E. Picturephone (Reflect You, I Connect You)," and "C Minor Miners" represent a mildly gothic edge, musically. I mean that, once again, in a good way, because unlike comparable songs like "Monosynth" and "Robot Beat," these are among the best melodies Ronnie Martin has put together. Most importantly, all the familiar JE melodies are there (let's put it this way: if you know Joy Electric, and you heard one of these songs on the radio, you would immediately know it was a JE song). For slow, "pretty" songs (for a lack of better words), "The Confectionary" will be a song to cherish. Innocent and euphonious, it can be compared to "Candycane Carriage" (namely the "Old Wives Tales" version) and "Analogue Grand Diary." In a nutshell, if you have loved Joy Electric in the past, you will fall in love with them once again. If you have never heard them before, this is a very good album to start with. It combines various elements from all JE albums past, and makes up their most mature effort to date."

The Legacy Continues with Volume 2

S. Alix | NYC | 07/07/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"3 1/2 StarsJoy Electric is back after his last smashing release, The White SongBook. That record held for me the most important turning point in JE's musical direction. For me it was the first time that Ronnie's meloncholy voice/lyrics and high tempo music finally fused into the perfect combination making him feel much more listenable around others. I was finally able to show others a record that perfectly explained why I liked this strange techno/beep music. In The Tick Tock Treasury Ronnie continues his legacy series and does an excellent follow up to the white song book. His lyrics seem very introspective and allegorical, as in the past. It has many upbeat tracks as well as his signature low tempo electronic ballads. Many tracks work really well, but the album doesn't really pick up until track 4. While his infectious melodies are still their I felt a bit let down by the repetitious nature of a few of his choruses, choosing to merely repeat one phrase for the last few minutes made a few songs grow stale. It seemed as though he had mastered the art of the 6 minute track, on this record a few of his choices feel a bit forced in order to extend the track.Not as perfect as The White Song Book but this record is still some of the most original music you can find today. It's far too easy to dismiss it as "video game music" because if you do then you really aren't paying attention to Ronnie's lyrics or mood. The quiet tension he builds in each song makes one feel like he's going to burst at any moment, either from love or sadness. His meloncholy point of view is classic reminding me of such groups as Tears for Fears or The Cure who were notorious for adding surprisingly sad lyrics to up beat pop songs. If your tired of the same old [stuff], this music will give you something new to sing about. It'll grow on you, and remember their are NO drum machines and NO sampling. This is all Ronnie, working []to make music like only he can. for the outcasts..."

HE's a Genuis

Josh | East Petersburg, PA | 04/01/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I know that there are alot of people that haven't heard or of JE, and I think that it a real shame. Ronnie has such incredible melodies running through his head. If you liked any of his prior work, this is definite must buy. If you think his music is too much of a novelty to enjoy, then you don't matter. This band is really something that everyone should have their collection packed with. It is just that amazing. The album evokes sadness and joy, many times at the same time. Now go and buy it."