Joan of Arc

The second 7" from this visionary group of Chicagoans, as well as their only non-Jade Tree release, is a modest two song effort that fits in comfortably among their early and more digestible releases. The A-side, "Busy Bus, Sunny Sun," is a slowly building number with loose guitars that evaporate into Tim Kinsella's charmingly off-key vocals and a mess of computerized noises. There's almost a discernable melody in the words, and the track even tails off into an enjoyable rock section complete with creative percussion, Cap'n Jazz-ish guitar play, and a handful off bizarre computerized effects. The B-side, "Stemingway & Heinbeck," is a bit further out there, but its repeated lyrical references to the Smiths' "Bigmouth Strikes Again" make for an equally entertaining listen. Before Joan of Arc got too eccentric for their own good, they were making soft but emotional music of this magnitude, and though there are only two songs included on this record, it is still a worthwhile representation of the band at their best. The guitars, both acoustic and electric, have a remarkably airy interplay and the blips and chirps that punctuate the music are still used sparingly while at the same time sounding original. There's a reason so many folks held out and hoped for the band to return to their original form later in their career; early material like this was truly impressive. ~ Peter J. D'Angelo, All Music Guide