5 out of 5

Label: Polyvinyl

Producer: Various per track

Compilations or tribute albums or what have you are, by their very nature, going to be a mixed bag, a sentiment I believe I’ve mentioned several times, which you know, because you’ve been reading these reviews chronologically somehow, even when I don’t post them on the site.

Even though I’ve stumbled across a scant few collections that I’d consider great, where the sequencing is mindful, where the desired theme comes across, whatever, “Don’t Mind Control” is a new concept for me in the compilation world, and I doubt many bands could’ve pulled it off as effectively as is done here.  The pitch seems to be to gather all of the different off-shoots of various people / groups who are associated with the JOA world and have them contribute a new track.  So it’s not a compilation, really, except in the sense that it’s compiling several different people into one place, and it’s not a themed album or tribute because there’s no stipulation as to what to play.  It’s not a label showcase at all – these people are established in the scene and have nothing to prove.  Some of these artists exist on their own, some groups might’ve stumbled together just for the album, but the bill of ‘JOA Presents’ seems totally fitting, pulling back the curtain to display a room with all of these people jamming solo or with each other, exchanging ideas, discovering new and unique grooves or settling into comfortable familiar ones.

And I say that not many groups could do it quite in this fashion because, as John Bush points out in his AMG review, despite my up and down opinion of Joan of Arc releases, I completely agree that part of their shtick is exploring a wide variety of sounds and how that can be applied to music on some level – be it entertainment, experiment, dot dot dot.  So those with whom they’ve built up a companionship over the years (the various players whose names pop up on various JOA tracks, or on whose albums a Kinsella will appear) seem to get that vibe, even if their trajectory is more streamlined.  I think of something else that acts as a collective and Elephant 6 comes to mind, but if you handed me an “Elephant 6 Presents:” mix, I’d pretty much know what to expect.  There’d be some great tracks there, but I’d know about what to expect… blah blah, not discrediting the skill of any particular Elephant 6 member.

But I had no idea what to expect for Don’t Mind Control.  Natch, you end up getting a bit of everything – some rockers, some acoustic, some experimental, some poppy.  What’s exciting is that there is an awareness of a whole picture, somehow, whether purposeful or due to the relationship these people have with one another, where no track feels too indulgent or over-long, and the sequencing works perfectly to isolate or highlight artist’s work in a way that separates it from assumptions, allowing *me* to hear it in a way I probably never would if you just played one song for me, or handed me an album.  Owen comes to mind when I say that.  I’ve heard some Owen albums, and they don’t catch me.  A little too precious.  But sandwiched between some noisier tracks on this comp – the tracks on either side longer than the Owen track as well – well, now I really dig that song.  Which is how these things, ideally, should work.  Not just exposing you to music to add to your playlist, you name-dropping fucks, but truly catching your ear.

Whatevs.  Is every track the most badass thing alive?  No, but that’s why I enjoy “Don’t Mind” so much.  I don’t feel like anyone’s playing to be heard, just playing.  Best JOA release ever?  It don’t matta.  But this is the best Ghosts & Vodka song I’ve heard, those bastards.