Joyland (TR/ST album)
Second studio album by Canadian electronic project TR/ST.
TR/ST, the Canadian electronic project led by Robert Alfons, put out their second album, Joyland, on March 4, 2014 via Arts & Crafts Records in North America. It reached number 12 on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums chart. Three singles—"Rescue, Mister", "Capitol", and "Are We Arc?"—each had a music video.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- TR/ST
- Released
- March 4, 2014
- Recorded
- 2013
- Genre
- Synth-pop
- EBM
- futurepop
- cold wave
- dark wave
- Label
- Arts & Crafts
- Producer
- Robert Alfons
Facts from the source article.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Slightly Floating | 3:34 |
| 2 | Geryon | 4:23 |
| 3 | Capitol | 4:53 |
| 4 | Joyland | 3:18 |
| 5 | Are We Arc? | 3:48 |
| 6 | Icabod | 4:29 |
| 7 | Four Gut | 5:11 |
| 8 | Rescue, Mister | 4:31 |
| 9 | Lost Souls/Eelings | 4:33 |
| 10 | Peer Pressure | 5:20 |
| 11 | Barely | 5:25 |
| Total length | 50:04 | |
Track listing from the source article.
Did You Know?
- The artwork for Joyland was created by Jenn Kitagawa alongside Robert Alfons and Seth Fluker.
- Alfons stated the cover idea was something like a racetrack, like a race in a video game.
Development
The album was developed solely by Robert Alfons after Maya Postepski left TR/ST following their debut. Joyland was written in various locations around the world while touring, unlike the first album which was primarily developed in Toronto. Alfons felt this difference brought energy from live shows and a boost of self-confidence, leading him to be more playful with aspects of the record, especially his vocals.
Composition
Joyland is described as synth-pop, cold wave, dark wave, EBM and futurepop. Its sound is characterized as gallant, atmospheric, desirably ostentatious, often brave and lugubrious, with beats and synths having a hollow sheen. Alfons listed influences including video game soundtracks, acid house, early techno, Kate Bush, Elizabeth Fraser and Lee Hazlewood, and noted taking risks with vocals and instrumentations he previously disliked.
Critical reception
MusicOMH praised the album for sharpening and streamlining Trust’s sound beyond the debut. Pitchfork gave a 6.8, noting many similarities to TRST but little growth. Daniel Sylvester of Exclaim! wrote that despite a few tracks suffering from muddy melodies, the album contains many great ideas and sonic peaks.
More in Arts & Crafts Productions Albums
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