REVIEW: Artificial Joy Club, Melt (Interscope)

- Sean Eric McGill

I've just spent about three hours listening to Melt, Artificial Joy Club's first album on Interscope Records. During those three hours, I've enjoyed all the songs and even started to learn most of the words, but couldn't figure out what exactly it was about the band I liked so much. I couldn't exactly review the band by saying "They rock!", could I? Then, it finally hit me like a Nuke Laloosh (the character portrayed by Tim Robbins in Bull Durham) fastball. It was the words - or more specifically, the sub-references that attracted me.

Of course, a lot of bands use sub-references in their songs. Just as many put their lyrics behind catchy, almost radio-friendly alterna-pop. But what separates Artificial Joy Club from those bands is that they do both - and do both so well. And Melt is certainly one of the better releases I've heard this year.

Led by vocalist Sal, Artificial Joy Club's sound is, for lack of a better description, somewhere along the lines of Fiona Apple and Liz Phair. Sal's lyrical work, however, doesn't follow the usual route of bludgeoning you over the head with the meanings. There are more sub-references in this album than the entire Tarantino filmography, with references to everyone and everything from the infamous Dr. Kevorkian to Steve Austin to lesbian porno and yes, even Tarantino, showing up at various points in the album.

This isn't to say that the album is lightweight, by any means. While the songs are all catchy and well-crafted, songs like "I Say" and "Cheeky Monkey" especially show a sense of lyrical depth mixed with wit that you don't find everyday. And while that lyrical imagery can throw you a little at times (the line "crusty as a worn out Penthouse" caused me to laugh audibly), it's refreshing to find.

A Canadian import, Artificial Joy Club have been around since 1993 and had two previous releases as Sal's Birdland. I haven't heard those albums, and can only guess at how closely they resemble Melt, but if they are even close, then there is no reason why this band shouldn't already enjoy a good following. Perhaps it can be chalked up to how the music industry look at rock bands fronted by females in the days before Melissa, Alanis, and others. But whatever the case may be, Melt certainly warrants attention. It's a stand-out album to draw an end to what has at best been a lack-luster summer season, and if that's not a good reason to like it, what is?

The first single from Melt, "Sick & Beautiful" is currently enjoying airplay on a station near you - and if not, bug the station. Artificial Joy Club can be found on the web at http://www.sympatico.ca/ajc