Album Notes

Very few people have heard of the rock band Joshua Lanes. They are new to the Independent music scene. Joshua Lanes has only been a band for 3 years, and operate under their own label called Spillway Records. Joshua Lanes, or JL is comprised of Carl Guitterrez on the drums, Elisa Anthony on the bass, and John Anthony on guitar and vocals. They live in Long Beach, California.

JL’s new album, Insert at Rib, is a departure from the pop oriented JL Notes which they released in March of 2005. Insert at Rib begins with the track Saxony and the Blackhole of Love, and announces that a more aggressive and nasty version of JL has arrived. Tracks like Dead and Candy Cane Lane bare reference to JL’s many influences particularly Sonic Youth and Fugazi.

Although, the new album is a departure from the pop nature of JL Notes, Insert at Rib does contain strong melody through the entire album. Tracks like The Devil’s Monument and Venus & Virgo contain the pop feel of JL Notes with the addition of a new sonic tapestry. The title track, Insert at Rib, is two minutes of bliss, especially the bridge where the listener is transported to another world.

JL has always been a big fan of the electric guitar, and that is evident on Insert at Rib. While making the album, JL did experiment with composing stripped down acoustic songs, and keeping them relatively bare. Tracks like Doorway, and In the Genes highlight the acoustic guitar, and contain alternatives to the drums when dealing with the percussive element.

The keyboard and the piano make appearances for the first time on a JL album. JL’s good friend and studio musician, Scott Garry lends his keyboard skills on Insert at Rib, and Candy Cane Lane. Elisa Anthony doubles her duties in JL, and plays keyboard on Renovations.

Lyrically, the content of Insert at Rib is abstract introspection. John writes mostly about his own struggles and observations through a nonlinear lense. The lyrics sound tied to the sonic nature of the music, sharing the landscape.

For those of you who have listened to JL Notes, Insert at Rib is different in many ways. You may even doubt it is the same band. In many ways, it is not the same band. The album Insert at Rib reflects a new Joshua Lanes. In making Insert at Rib, JL stumbled upon a new sound. A sound that is different, but all their own.