Currently on repeat for the 11th time, I just had to recommend this brilliant album to those out there who haven’t heard it yet. And because Adrian and I both had Joy Formidable songs (2 different ones at that!) on our June playlists, it definitely says something about this little gem of an album.

Despite having only 8 songs (5 already available for download, all 8 for streaming on myspace) on their debut, A Balloon named Moaning was sold out during the online pre-sales; this and between making it a freedownload on NME’s music blog. Radiohead started the whole free-download-or-pay-how-much-you-think-it-is-worth thing and so many bands have caught on since. Fighting piracy with a little guilt trip, perhaps?

The Joy Formidable are a 3-piece band, originally out of North Wales, but currently residing in London. They are catchy, poppy and rocky, all at the same time. I’d like to classify them as punkpop or dreampunk, since someone classified them as dreampop. The band consists of nothing less than: Rhydian – Bass/Vox, Ritzy – Guitar/Vox, Justin – Drums/Vox.

The JF has 2 singles to date; they have put out their second single “Cradle” on February 2nd of this year, and their previous single, “Austere”, which was released during the summer of 2008, had its video banned from youtube because it features people’s faces as though they were masturbating (you can still watch it on the official website ).  “Cradle” takes that same epic pop sound that TJF create so well and cranks it to another level.  But IMHO, even the other 6 songs are good enough to be released as singles. And since they have offered free downloads, we’re not gonna be giving you samples to listen this time round.

Links —> myspace | joyformidable.com | Freedownload! (just give them your e-mail address and you can download 5 of their songs)