Designing Garbage 101: Joie De Vivre
Above: the Japanese version for the upcoming release by Joie De Vivre, “The North End”
The record will be released in 2010 by Count Your Lucky Stars Records with distribution everywhere. The Vinyl and Japanese version will feature bonus tracks and different artwork.
Below: The US version of said record.
They gave me free permission to do ‘whatever’ which is rare, and they respected my creative freedom in trying to capture the midwest as I only know it personally for them and their band, their songs through some 35mm Lomo photos and subtle illustrations I’ve produced.
Like the Japanese canine cover star herself, fragile, true, moments of clarity unlike anywhere else in the world and vicious like a pitbull if pushed, that’s what the Midwest is to me with its deceptive seasons. Pretty for seconds, brutal for months but always true and no pretending. The moment you pretend, watch out for grizzly bears, they attack anyone who eats off their plate.
There’s alot more to be said of being asked to do this project for the ‘kids.’ I’m getting older and crankier, the music out there in the mainstream seems to be lacking something I miss from my youth, ATTITUDE. Maybe we all feel this as we grow older and wiser. With these kids, I’ll leave it at, “it’s an honor.” They’re gonna grow up just fine as musicians n’ people, they have the old soul in them already. Some are lucky enough to know what that’s like to see that quality in others years younger. I’m burned out by musicians my own age, they’re in it for the wrong reasons. This project has helped start the process of surviving another Midwestern winter. Thanks guys. Now, go get drunk and make mistakes but not on a major label.
