Why I Like It:
I think I should get something out of the way before I begin this write-up. Joyce Manor was a band that never clicked for me. Phew, nice to get that off my chest! As I avoid beer cans thrown from their diehard fans, I can say this album finally got me "falling into it", as lead singer Barry Johnson would say. The music of I Used To Go To This Bar has been the most stuck in my head for 2026 thus far.
I can't explain what made this album all of a sudden work but I'm happy to be here now, finally. What I can do, is say what I like about the album. There's fun power pop guitar riffs, short punchy punk songs around the 2 minuet mark, and just catchy fuckin lyrics that I love singing over and over again like "freight train coming down the track/and it almost gave me a heart attack" or "got run over by my dream car/spent forever in the ER". Also "Grey Guitar" is a top Joyce Manor song (ya ya what right do I have as a freshly minted fan to say this, but it's already been said now).
This is a shorter review, but in typical Joyce Manor fashion of short songs and albums, maybe this is all that needs to be said. No filler, just the facts.
Sidenote - If you want more substance about this album and Joyce Manor as a whole, listen to the Bandsplain episode linked below.
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Highlighted song and lyrics:
Grey Guitar - "We both know that they can't fix you/ they haven't got the parts"
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Similar bands to check out:
Los Campesinos!, PUP, Jeff Rosenstock, The Menziners
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Links to check out:
Bandsplain podcast - Interview with Barry Johnson
Undertheradarmag.com - Review
Nate the Mate - Joyce Manor: The Punkest Band Alive
*It's an older video but covers why they have such a loyal fanbase
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