Los Angeles-based indie duo Street Joy just released "Same As Me" a couple days ago, and we're of the opinion that it's not something you're going to want to miss. The sound is vaguely lo-fi, but not because it wasn't produced well; rather, these guys have a decidedly raw edge to them that is refreshingly simple in much the same way a lot of Jack White's work is. There's nothing flashy about the music you're hearing, but the minimalist guitar chords and bare-bones beat achieves a much more visceral listening experience than most tracks can these days, and Jason DeMayo's fuzzy vocals are the perfect way to round out the package. What's really impressive, though, is that they don't try hide the soul of the track behind extra layers of instrumentation. It's a huge risk to lay out just a few notes, a bassline, and a couple of lyrics during recording and then calling it quits. The song could come off as lazy or underwhelming to some as a result, and there's absolutely no margin for error if screwed up; the listener will hear every flaw and inconsistency. On the other hand, if you get it right with just the minimum amount of sound, the end result has the potential to be absolutely stunning, proving the adage that if something's handled correctly, less it truly more. Street joy has taken that truth and masterfully applied it to their latest single here, and if "Same As Me" doesn't have you hooked by the time the bass rolls in, you should get your speakers checked.
Street Joy