Search - Too Much Joy :: Mutiny

The last great power pop record and TMJ's last great one.

Bill Wikstrom | Long Island, NY | 09/03/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Too Much Joy were the band I made all my friends sick of in the 1990's by playing them ad nauseam. Aside from The Replacements

these guys were the best thinking man's drinking band in my humbled opinion. Released in late Summer 1992, their fourth album Mutiny was their last "great" album. The lead-off single,"Donna Everywhere", is one of many should-have-been hits by this band. It's mildy reminicent of The Who's "Pictures Of Lily" (one of TMJ's more obvious influences). The mellow-rocking "What It Is" also (in a perfect world) could've been a hit. The second single culled from the record "Starry Eyes" (a cover of The Records' classic) segues nicely into "Stay At Home" a fight for your right for indoor debaucheries like reading, listening to music and sex. "Magic" is TMJ firing on all cylinders. "In Perpetuity" (the third single) is beautiful, but rather poorly sequenced/situated on the record. The songs that follow are all great, rocking TMJ. Aside from the closing "Sorry" (which reads better than sung) there are no clunkers on this disc. The call and response vocals on this record are amazingly well done and I can't think of any other rock band that arranges their vocals like many rap groups do (i.e. bassist sings first line, guitarist sings the next...). The singing is not unlike Cheap Trick's Robin Zander, the instumentation strongly sounds very Who-influenced. One of the best Power Pop albums that you've sadly never heard."

Here comes the pavement!

Brian Stork | Seattle, WA United States | 10/17/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Too Much Joy is the best band you're not listening to! Why aren't you listening?!?"Mutiny" feels like TMJ getting their Rock-Star legs. "Parachute" rips into you, describing the thrill of the spotlight (and every body's waving) with the terror of what comes next (here comes the pavement). "Unbeautiful" describes transformation into a corporate commodity. "Stay At Home" is a blatant rejection of the "happening scene". (Sorry to mhardy63, but) "In Perpetuity" isn't about love, it's a frightening observation of a recording contract, and the reason TMJ themselves can't release these recordings. These guys are much more than surface-deep.Very catchy music, intelligent lyrics, and some of the most plesant vocal work you'll hear. It's rock and roll. It's music for tragic characters who wish to end up in a comedy."

Too bad it's out of print

MichaelH | East Coast US | 07/10/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Too Much Joy never found the success they deserved. Mutiny, their fourth studio recording, shows them as a band that should have hit big, that should still be around.Take the closest thing the disc had to a single, "Donna Everywhere." It's infectiously catchy, witty and salacious in an almost innocent way. Then there's "Starry Eyes" and "Stay At Home," rollicking good-time songs about good times. Don't miss "In Perpetuity," a gorgeous ballad that mixes love of a woman with love of music with love of life. And pay attention to "Strong Thing," a gem almost hidden near the end of the disc, touching, questioning and optimistic all at once.Alas, Joy, we hardly knew ye. ...Then buy the TMJ recordings that are still in print. Show the world that people still care about music that matters precisely because it doesn't try to."