''Joy 1967–1990'' is the second album by

Ultra Vivid Scene Ultra Vivid Scene was an American alternative rock band, started by Kurt Ralske. Background Former Nothing But Happiness and Crash guitarist Ralske started Ultra Vivid Scene in 1986,https://www.discogs.com/release/6488943-Ultra-Vivid-Scene-S ...

, released in 1990.

Recording and release

After finding moderate success with his self-produced solo effort ''

'', Kurt Ralske returned to the studio in November 1989 to record a follow-up. This time, Ralske brought in producer Hugh Jones, who had previously worked with

Echo & the Bunnymen Echo & the Bunnymen are an English Rock music, rock band formed in Liverpool in 1978. The original line-up consisted of vocalist Ian McCulloch (singer), Ian McCulloch, guitarist Will Sergeant and bassist Les Pattinson. By 1980, Pete de Freita ...

Modern English Modern English, sometimes called New English (NE) or present-day English (PDE) as opposed to Middle and Old English, is the form of the English language that has been spoken since the Great Vowel Shift in England England is a Count ...

, and The Damned, and a handful of session musicians. Two songs featured guest performances: "Special One," with vocals by

Kim Deal Kimberley Ann Deal (born June 10, 1961) is an American musician. She was the original bassist and co-vocalist in the alternative rock band the Pixies (band), Pixies from 1986 to 1993 and again from 2004 to 2013. She is the frontwoman of the Bre ...

of the

Pixies Pixies may refer to: * Plural of Pixie * Pixies (band) The Pixies are an American alternative rock band from Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1986 by Black Francis (vocals, rhythm guitar, songwriter), Joey Santiago (lead guitar), Kim ...

, and "Beauty #2", with pedal steel work by B.J. Cole. According to Ralske, the title ''Joy 1967-1990'' was intended to be a tombstone inscription. Upon completion of the album, Ralske recruited a full band consisting of Collin Rae on guitar, Byron Guthrie on drums, and

Josephine Wiggs Miranda Cordelia Susan Josephine Wiggs (born 26 February 1965), simply known as Josephine Wiggs, is an English multi-instrumentalist rock musician, best known for her work as bassist in the alternative rock bands The Breeders and The Perfect D ...

on bass, allowing Ultra Vivid Scene to go on tour for the first time in the spring of 1990.

Reception

The album debuted on May 7, 1990, to generally positive reviews. Writing for the ''

Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is an American daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1847, it was formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper", a slogan from which its once integrated WGN (AM), WGN radio and ...

'', Bill Wyman described ''Joy'' as a "dizzying, insular tour de force" and awarded it three out of four stars. Karen Schoemer's brief writeup in the ''

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' concluded that the album "at times seems too contrived, but Mr. Ralske's own joy in the sounds he creates is irresistible." In the ''

Telegram & Gazette The ''Telegram & Gazette'' (and ''Sunday Telegram'') is the only daily newspaper of Worcester, Massachusetts. The paper, headquartered at 100 Front Street and known locally as ''the Telegram'' or the ''T & G'', offers coverage of all of Worceste ...

'', Craig Semon wrote "Even though consistency and clarity are not the band's strong points, Ralske and his bandmates deliver an interesting if not well-wrapped package in 'Joy 1967-1990.'"

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

praised "the gossamer web of acoustic and electronic instruments and Ralske's knack for melodies" but found fault with the "dopey lyrics".

Track listing

# "It Happens Every Time" – 3:18 # "Staring at the Sun" – 2:47 # "Three Stars" – 3:19 # "Special One" – 3:15 # "Grey Turns White" – 3:18 # "Poison" – 3:41 # "Guilty Pleasure" – 3:29 # "Extra Ordinary" – 3:51 # "Beauty #2" – 3:59 # "The Kindest Cut" – 3:09 # "Praise the Low" – 3:21 # "Lightning" – 4:45

Singles

*"Staring at the Sun" (April 9, 1990) *# "Staring at the Sun" *# "Crash" *# "Three Stars" (★★★ Version) *# "Nothing Better" *"Special One" (November 12, 1990) *# "Special One" *# "Lightning (72 B.P.M. / 4 A.M.)" *# "Kind of a Drag" *# "A Smile and a Death Wish"

Personnel

*Richie Close –

programming Program (American English; also Commonwealth English in terms of computer programming and related activities) or programme (Commonwealth English in all other meanings), programmer, or programming may refer to: Business and management * Program m ...

* B.J. Cole –

pedal steel The pedal steel guitar is a console steel guitar with pedals and knee levers that change the pitch of certain strings, enabling more varied and complex music to be played than with other steel guitar designs. Like all steel guitars, it can play ...

on "Beauty #2" *

–

vocals Singing is the art of creating music with the voice. It is the oldest form of musical expression, and the human voice can be considered the first musical instrument. The definition of singing varies across sources. Some sources define sing ...

on "Special One" *Byron Guthrie – programming * Hugh Jones – programming, producer,

engineer Engineers, as practitioners of engineering, are professionals who Invention, invent, design, build, maintain and test machines, complex systems, structures, gadgets and materials. They aim to fulfill functional objectives and requirements while ...

Caroline Lavelle Caroline Lavelle is an English singer-songwriter and Cello, cellist who has created three solo albums and contributed vocals, music, and production help to many other artists and bands. Career Lavelle studied at the Royal College of Music in L ...

–

cello The violoncello ( , ), commonly abbreviated as cello ( ), is a middle pitched bowed (sometimes pizzicato, plucked and occasionally col legno, hit) string instrument of the violin family. Its four strings are usually intonation (music), tuned i ...

on "Three Stars" and "The Kindest Cut" *Robert McKahey –

bodhrán The bodhrán (, ; plural ''bodhráin'') is a frame drum used in Irish music ranging from in diameter, with most drums measuring . The sides of the drum are deep. A Goatskin (material), goatskin head is tacked to one side (synthetic heads or ot ...

on "Praise the Low" *

Nick Muir Nick Muir is a British musician, songwriter and electronic music producer. He is best known as one half of the electronic music duo Bedrock (duo), Bedrock, which consists of himself and DJ John Digweed, although he also found success as a solo a ...

–

organ Organ and organs may refer to: Biology * Organ (biology), a group of tissues organized to serve a common function * Organ system, a collection of organs that function together to carry out specific functions within the body. Musical instruments ...

and

piano A piano is a keyboard instrument that produces sound when its keys are depressed, activating an Action (music), action mechanism where hammers strike String (music), strings. Modern pianos have a row of 88 black and white keys, tuned to a c ...

on "Special One" and "Extra Ordinary" * Kurt Ralske – programming, vocals *Margaret Thorby –

recorder Recorder or The Recorder may refer to: Newspapers * ''Indianapolis Recorder'', a weekly newspaper * ''The Recorder'' (Massachusetts newspaper), a daily newspaper published in Greenfield, Massachusetts, US * ''The Recorder'' (Port Pirie), a newsp ...

and

viol The viola da gamba (), or viol, or informally gamba, is a bowed and fretted string instrument that is played (i.e. "on the leg"). It is distinct from the later violin family, violin, or ; and it is any one of the earlier viol family of bow (m ...

on "Praise the Low"

Charts

Album

Singles

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Joy 1967-1990 Ultra Vivid Scene albums 1990 albums Albums produced by Hugh Jones (producer) 4AD albums