| I Used To Go To This Bar | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | January 30, 2026 | |||
| Studio | Dave's Room | |||
| Label | Epitaph | |||
| Producer | Brett Gurewitz | |||
| Joyce Manor chronology | ||||
| ||||
I Used To Go To This Bar is the seventh studio album by American rock band Joyce Manor, released on January 30, 2026, by Epitaph Records. The album was preceded by the singles "All My Friends Are So Depressed" and "Well, Whatever It Was".
For I Used to Go to This Bar, longtime Epitaph Records founder Brett Gurewitz returned to work with the band as producer. It was mainly recorded at Dave's Room, [1] a facility in North Hollywood, California. The band worked with a series of drummers, including Joey Waronker, known for his work with R.E.M. and Oasis, and they also included contributions from other musicians associated with Beck. [2] Gurewitz encouraged the band to include more up-tempo songs, which prompted Johnson to develop the album’s title track, inspired by the experience of passing by bars during the daytime. [2] The album is dedicated to Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson, who like the band grew up in the South Bay. [3]
Frontman Barry Johnson described his songwriting process as building new material from older ideas, often reflecting on memories from 10 to 15 years prior, with concepts of existential anxiety and small moments of pleasure woven throughout. [2] Johnson has noted themes of financial precarity and creating personal happiness inform the lyrics, reflecting experiences from life in suburban L.A. [3] Gurewitz praised Johnson's concise songwriting, drawing comparisons to Ernest Hemingway, Tim Armstrong, and Bruce Springsteen. [3] Johnson cited influences for the album as ranging from the Smiths, the Libertines, and X to contemporary artists such as 100 Gecs. [4] "Well, Whatever It Was" has been described as emblematic of Southern California's musical influences, citing elements reminiscent of Jane’s Addiction, Weezer, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. [5] Brady Gerber, writing for the Los Angeles Times , observed that the album incorporates a variety of musical styles, including melodic pop-punk, country-tinged shuffles, and elements of classical and synth-based arrangements. [3]
The album cover was supplied by Chris Clean, a friend of the band, and depicts his grandmother decades earlier at a party. The band sought permission to use the photograph, citing its timeless, candid quality and its rich, detailed background. [6]
"All My Friends Are So Depressed" marked the band's first radio hit, peaking at number 19 on Billboard 's Alternative Airplay chart. [7]
All tracks are written by Barry Johnson, Chase Knobbe, and Matt Ebert.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Know Where Mark Chen Lives" | 1:50 |
| 2. | "Falling Into It" | |
| 3. | "All My Friends Are So Depressed" | 2:42 |
| 4. | "Well, Whatever It Was" | 2:06 |
| 5. | "I Used To Go To This Bar" | |
| 6. | "After All You Put Me Through" | |
| 7. | "The Opossum" | |
| 8. | "Well, Don’t It Seem Like You've Been Here Before?" | |
| 9. | "Grey Guitar" |
Joyce Manor
Production