[kj] another bloody review

[Matthew Burke]

Hi again, it's been a while.  My daughter turned one last week, and the past 
year has been a blur.

I've been lurking when I can, however, and I pre-ordered Hosannas, and I've 
got an asshole and an opinion, and I'll show you one of them right now.

I joined this board in '03 because of the rejuvenation I felt as a Joke fan 
after hearing that year's release (and, frankly, in hopes of getting an 
inside track as to when tix were going on sale for the North American tour . 
. .  I was a naive youth.).  I shared some of my thoughts, a few Gatherers 
called me a fuckwit, and I thought: 'here's a place that reminds me of home. 
  I think I'll stay.'

And so, I return, as the new record has again solidified my faith in the 
band and bade me come a little closer to the fire.

When I heard Hosannas would take a different direction from '03 I fell into 
the trap of pining for a repeat of the last album, even though I know 
progress is the goal.  I braced myself and waited, as the band has certainly 
earned my patience.  For good or ill, as a Joke fan you learn to live by the 
credo Show Me, and Hosannas certainly has.  All the power of the return that 
was '03, but in more symphonic spaces.  Geordie sounds enormous.  The more 
personal tone of some of the lyrics is a refreshing color, a bit akin to 
Extremities, and just one of many reasons I think this album sounds like 
Extremities-era Joke playing Pandemonium.  I appreciate all the turns that 
Jaz's vocals take.  And it’s a luxury to hear a return to the lengthy, 
trancey, tribal pile driver that is the Joke's alone.

Etc. and so on and several other things that have been said already.

Tribal Antidote has remained my daughter's favorite dance track for over a 
week now.  More so than even the Old Navy commercial.  That's gotta tell you 
something.

thanks for the indulgence,

m