The one thing to know:
Joan of Arc's 1998 album, 'How Memory Works,' explores complex musical ideas and introspective themes.
- 1"How Memory Works" is the second album by the American band Joan of Arc, released in 1998.
- 2The album's creation involved multiple recording studios and engineers.
- 3Critics noted the band's unique sound, combining unexpected musical shifts with thoughtful lyrics.
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Part 1 of 4Think of it like:
Imagine a chef creating a meal by using many different ingredients and cooking methods, sometimes mixing them in surprising ways. Each dish is unique, but together they form a complete dining experience. This album is like that, with each song being a distinct 'dish' that contributes to the overall musical 'meal.'
Key idea: Joan of Arc's second album, "How Memory Works," was released in 1998 and is conceptually linked to their debut album.
"How Memory Works" is the second full length album from an American band called . It came out in 1998 through a record label named . The album's artwork hints that it is connected to their first album, "A Portable Model Of...". Both album booklets actually share a phrase: "a portable model of... how memory works." This suggests a deeper link between the two musical works.
“Both album booklets actually share a phrase: "a portable model of... how memory works."”
Quick check
What is the name of Joan of Arc's second album?
Key idea: The album's production was a collaborative effort, recorded and mixed in various studios by different engineers.
The band worked on "How Memory Works" between October 1997 and February 1998. This recording process involved several different people and places. Almost half of the album was recorded and mixed by at a studio called Electrical Audio. He had help from Rob Bochnik and Greg Norman.
The rest of the songs were recorded and mixed by Elliot Dicks, Jeremy Boyle, and Tim Kinsella. They worked at two other locations: Elliot's Loft and Truckstop. Casey Rice then organized the order of the songs on the album, a process called sequencing. Finally, made the sound perfect, a step known as mastering, at West West Side Music in New Jersey.
Quick check
Who was involved in recording and mixing nearly half of the album?
Key idea: Critics praised the album for its unpredictable musical structure and Tim Kinsella's distinctive performance.
Music critics shared their thoughts on "How Memory Works." The Village Voice, a well known publication, wrote about the album. They mentioned that the music had unexpected changes in speed and loudness. They also highlighted Tim Kinsella's unique guitar playing and singing style. The review described it as a "gawky wonderama of awkward silences" that showed surprising confidence for someone still young, under 25 years old.
“Tempos and volumes rise and fall unexpectedly, as [Tim] Kinsella's squirrelly guitar and voice register a whole gawky wonderama of awkward silences with surprising nerd authority for someone still shy of 25.”
Key idea: The album contains eleven original songs, each with a unique title and duration.
The album features eleven songs, all written by the band Joan of Arc. Here is the list of the songs and how long each one plays:
"Honestly Now" – 0 minutes, 48 seconds
"Gin & Platonic" – 3 minutes, 32 seconds
"To've Had Two Of" – 3 minutes, 07 seconds
"This Life Cumulative" – 3 minutes, 41 seconds
"A Pale Orange" – 6 minutes, 47 seconds
"White Out" – 3 minutes, 50 seconds
"So Open; Hooray!" – 4 minutes, 23 seconds
"A Name" – 3 minutes, 08 seconds
"Osmosis Doesn't Work" – 3 minutes, 33 seconds
"God Bless America" – 2 minutes, 22 seconds
"A Party Able Model Of" – 2 minutes, 52 seconds
Why does this matter?
- Understanding the production process of an album helps you appreciate the effort and collaboration involved in creating music.
- Learning about critical reception can give you insight into how music is evaluated and discussed.
- Exploring an artist's discography, like the connection between this album and their debut, reveals their artistic journey and themes.
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1 / 10What is the title of Joan of Arc's second full length album?
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- 1Album release
- 2Production process
- 3Critical reception
- 4Track listing
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