For those born in the late 80’s and early 90’s, I think we’re the “WTF (am I doing with my life?)” generation. Every day on the vast plains of Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr, there are constant complaints of people in their 20’s, myself included. We’re all bitter we never got our letter to Hogwarts, became Pokemon masters or lived the new found “American Dream,” and made it big because of reality TV. The truth is that we were bred with high expectations due to an adolescence filled with the media’s assurance that we’d make it one day. So now we sit in what we deem mediocrity, but what our parents see as a good life. We’re left with this eternal struggle, and at the end of the day feel down and out about being a so called “adult” with not much to show. I had no idea when I started listening to Joie De Vivre’s We’re All Better Than This that this would be the angle this review took, but I’m glad it did.
Just this week Dowsing won me over with their Indie Emo It’s Still Pretty Terrible, and today another off the Count Your Lucky Stars roster is doing the same with a similar style. While Dowsing had heart and mind, Joie De Vivre’s mindset is what sticks out most and will win over those lost and looking to connect in the WTF generation.
We’re All Better Than This will be enjoyed by an array of ages, but I’d put money on the majority of the fans being 25-30 because that’s who the lyrics speak to most. Lines like “I stopped believing when I was 20 there’s something more than this” in “I Guess Not” rings true for everyone out there who hit that wall after the teen years were over. At first I was bummed “That Dudes Leads A Depressing Life” was so much like me…adult sitting at home thinking of going back to school, but then I perked up because it ended with the idea that you have to do what you want and lead the life that will make you happy.
“I Was Sixteen Ten Years Ago” and “Maybe People Do Change” weren’t written for a 14 year old who’s biggest issue is fitting into the micro world of their school, they’re songs written for the band’s peers; adults trying to make something out of the shit they call the “real world.”
The music is like that of Dowsing, it’s very tranquil at times and there’s not a lot of energy to spread about and the vocals aren’t perfect, but I don’t think the reality of what Joie De Vivre is trying to convey on We’re All Better Than This would be as strong if they sounded glossy and over produced. So if you’re a fan of Dowsing and Football, etc. or you just want to know there are other adults out there feeling as confused as you, than check out Joie De Vivre’s We’re All Better Than This. It’s been out for a while now, which bums me out I’ve been missing out so long.
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