Last You Heard of Me

Last updated
"Last You Heard of Me"
Single by Joyce Manor
from the album Cody
ReleasedSeptember 14, 2016 (2016-09-14)
Genre
Length3:08
Label Epitaph
Songwriter(s)
  • Barry Johnson
  • Chase Knobbe
  • Jeff Enzor
  • Matt Ebert
Producer(s) Rob Schnapf
Joyce Manor singles chronology
"Fake I.D."
(2016)		"Last You Heard of Me"
(2016)		"Eighteen"
(2016)

"Last You Heard of Me" is a song recorded by the American rock band Joyce Manor. The song was released on September 14, 2016, through Epitaph Records, as the second single from the band's fourth studio album Cody . "Last You Heard of Me" recounts a predictable night at a karaoke bar that ends in a regretful romantic entanglement. Though it shares songwriting credits between the band members, the song was largely written by frontman Barry Johnson. Its tangential lyrical style was inspired by the work of Mark Kozelek, and based off a sense of ennui and lethargy with drunken nights.

Contents

Critics enjoyed "Last You Heard of Me", with many singling out its slow-building storyline for praise. Its punk sound was often likened to Weezer. Its music video was directed by Christopher Good and depicts a Clue -style dinner party gone wrong at a mansion called "Joyce Manor".

Background

"Last You Heard of Me" shares songwriting credits between all of the members of Joyce Manor at that time, though it was primarily written by frontman Barry Johnson. He penned the song's lyrics during an inspired weeklong session in November 2015, during which he came up with many of the other songs on Cody, the song's parent album. Most of the songs required little revision: "They were all coming out finished. [...] I couldn’t really tell you what or why, though. Nothing in my life happened. I’m not sure I was consciously reflecting on anything," Johnson remembered. [1] The song's direct lyrical approach was inspired by the work of Mark Kozelek. [2] Musically, the song has frequently been likened to Weezer. [3] [4]

The Alibi bar in 2016. Alibi, PDX, 2016.jpg
The Alibi bar in 2016.

The song's unusual structure eschews a chorus for a linear and tangential style, [5] following a storyline that builds slowly throughout the song. [6] Johnson narrates in first person from the Alibi in Portland, Oregon, [2] where he waits in line for karaoke requests in-between drinks. [7] He follows behind Sonia, a friend or love interest, [8] to smoke weed; he abhors "the stuff," opting instead for a cigarette. [9] Outside, he locks eyes with a muse—perhaps implied to be a previous lover [10] —and as the instrumental builds, Johnson recounts in flashes the rest of the evening: "Start to finish sad defeat / Shivering, lying next to you / And that's the last you heard of me."

Release and reception

Epitaph issued "Last You Heard of Me" as the second single from Cody on September 14, 2016. [11] Its music video, directed by Christopher Good, depicts a mansion dinner party gone wrong. [12] Anna Gaca from Spin described the clip: "Something evil is afoot, and the baroque salon quickly devolves into a Clue-style whodunnit bloodbath." [13]

Contemporary music critics enjoyed "Last You Heard of Me". Spin's Kyle McGovern called it a "deeply satisfying bit of pop-punk." [9] At Stereogum, Collin Robinson wrote: "Joyce Manor have a way of communicating some devastating sentiments with a subtlety that makes for sneaky potency." [10] Tanner Smith, writing for PopMatters, extolled the tune as the band's "most mature, focused, and clear statement". [5] The song's slow-burning conclusion was often singled out for praise. Jon Caramanica from the New York Times described the surprise ending: "[The song] is the first place of this album that feels stagnant. But then, [it] suddenly accelerates at the end. Johnson has snapped out of it, or more to the point, woken up." [3] Quinn Moreland, for Pitchfork, complimented the finale's "would-be epiphany": "In every two-minute story, the stakes are high, and this pushes each track to discover some sort of clarity by the conclusion. On Cody, these realizations are rarely happy, and Joyce Manor ask their fans to follow them to a darker place than before." [14] Danielle Chelosky, also of Stereogum, suggested the ending "showcases their skill for a rewarding payoff." [15]

Personnel

Joyce Manor

Production

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weezer</span> American rock band

Weezer is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1992. Since 2001, the band has consisted of Rivers Cuomo, Patrick Wilson, Brian Bell, and Scott Shriner. They have sold 10 million albums in the US and more than 35 million worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heavenly (British band)</span> British twee pop band

Heavenly are a twee pop band, originally forming in Oxford, England in 1989. Amelia Fletcher (vocals/guitar), Mathew Fletcher, Peter Momtchiloff (guitar) and Robert Pursey (bass) had all been members of Talulah Gosh, a key member of the C86 scene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sun Kil Moon</span> American folk rock act

Sun Kil Moon is an American folk rock act from San Francisco, California, founded in 2002. Initially a continuation of the defunct indie rock band Red House Painters, Sun Kil Moon is now the primary recording moniker of vocalist and guitarist Mark Kozelek. The project is named after the Korean super flyweight boxer Sung-Kil Moon.

<i>Among the Leaves</i> 2012 studio album by Sun Kil Moon

Among the Leaves is the fifth studio album by American indie folk act Sun Kil Moon, released on May 29, 2012 on Caldo Verde Records. Similar to Sun Kil Moon's previous studio album, Admiral Fell Promises (2010), the album is predominantly performed by founding member Mark Kozelek on a nylon-string guitar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joyce Manor</span> American indie rock band

Joyce Manor is an American punk rock band formed in Torrance, California in 2008. The band's current lineup consists of singer-songwriter and guitarist Barry Johnson, guitarist Chase Knobbe, and bassist/backing vocalist Matt Ebert. The band's musical style is rooted in punk rock but has diversified over its career. The band first gained momentum through word-of-mouth and social media sites. Kurt Walcher was the band's founding drummer; the group has switched drummers each album cycle since 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everything (Nine Inch Nails song)</span> Nine Inch Nails song

"Everything" is a song by American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails from their eighth studio album Hesitation Marks (2013). It debuted on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 program on August 19, 2013, and was released digitally the following day as the album's third and final single.

<i>Benji</i> (album) 2014 studio album by Sun Kil Moon

Benji is the sixth studio album by American indie folk act Sun Kil Moon, released on 11 February 2014 on Caldo Verde Records. Self-produced by primary recording artist Mark Kozelek, the album takes its name from the 1974 film Benji, and was recorded between March and August 2013 at Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco.

<i>Never Hungover Again</i> 2014 studio album by Joyce Manor

Never Hungover Again is the third studio album by American rock band Joyce Manor, released on July 22, 2014 through Epitaph Records. Never Hungover Again explores topics like love and summertime. It contains both bracingly fast and mid-tempo punk songs, recorded live across two weeks at a Hollywood studio with producer Joe Reinhart. The album's run time clocks in at only nineteen minutes long. The band aimed for brevity, and most of the songs on the album are under two minutes.

"Catalina Fight Song" is a song recorded by the American rock band Joyce Manor. The song was released on May 15, 2014, through Epitaph Records, as the lead single from the band's third studio album Never Hungover Again. The song, which shares songwriting credits with all members of the band, focuses on frustration with life and refers to Santa Catalina Island, off the coast of Southern California. The song uses quick concepts and vivid imagery to achieve a sense of listlessness.

<i>Joyce Manor</i> (album) 2011 studio album by Joyce Manor

Joyce Manor is the debut studio album by American emo band Joyce Manor, released on January 11, 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guerilla Toss</span> American art rock band

Guerilla Toss is an American rock band, formed in Boston in 2011. Now based in New York City, the group currently consists of singer Kassie Carlson, drummer Peter Negroponte, guitarist Arian Shafiee, keyboardist Jake Lichter, and bassist Zach Lewellyn. Guerilla Toss has released five studio albums, seven EPs, and three remix albums, on various underground labels, DFA Records and more recently on Sub Pop. They were listed in Rolling Stone magazine as one of the "10 Great Modern Punk Bands" and Henry Rollins has called them "one of the first great bands of the new century".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let's Eat Grandma</span> British pop group

Let's Eat Grandma are a British experimental pop duo formed in 2013 by Rosa Walton and Jenny Hollingworth. They released their debut studio album I, Gemini in 2016 through Transgressive Records. Their second studio album, I'm All Ears, was released in 2018, followed by Two Ribbons in 2022. Let's Eat Grandma describe their music as "experimental sludge pop".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Still Breathing (Green Day song)</span> 2016 single by Green Day

"Still Breathing" is a song by American rock band Green Day from their twelfth studio album, Revolution Radio (2016). Written and produced by the band, the lyrics explore the idea of overcoming adversity in the face of hardship. "Still Breathing" is a pop-punk song with a pop-like production, which has been stylistically considered a return to form for the band.

<i>Cody</i> (album) 2016 studio album by Joyce Manor

Cody is the fourth studio album by American rock band Joyce Manor, released on October 7, 2016 by Epitaph Records. The California-based quartet first formed in the late 2000s, building a fanbase online and through exhausting touring. Its previous album, Never Hungover Again (2014), had cemented its status as one of the biggest pop-punk bands of the 2010s, earning rave reviews from critics. In the interim, the band dismissed original drummer Kurt Walcher, replacing him with Jeff Enzor, and frontman Barry Johnson embraced meditation.

"Dreams Tonite" is a song by Canadian indie pop band Alvvays. It was released on July 25, 2017 as the second single from the band's second studio album, Antisocialites.

<i>Million Dollars to Kill Me</i> 2018 studio album by Joyce Manor

Million Dollars to Kill Me is the fifth studio album by American punk rock band Joyce Manor, released on September 21, 2018 through Epitaph Records.

"Constant Headache" is a song recorded by American rock band Joyce Manor. The song was released on January 11, 2011, as part of their self-titled debut album. It was also the namesake of the group's extended play of the same name, first released a year prior. The song is generally considered the band's signature song.

<i>40 oz. to Fresno</i> 2022 studio album by Joyce Manor

40 oz. to Fresno is the sixth studio album by American rock band Joyce Manor, released on June 10, 2022, by Epitaph Records. For the album, the band reunited with veteran producer Rob Schnapf, who last worked with the band on 2016's Cody.

"Fake I.D." is a song recorded by the American rock band Joyce Manor. The song was released on August 8, 2016, through Epitaph Records, as the lead single from the band's fourth studio album Cody. The song depicts a hopeless one-night stand with a conversational narcissist. Frontman Barry Johnson wrote the song's lyrics, which reference a litany of public figures, including rapper Kanye West, author John Steinbeck, and actor Phil Hartman.

"Dance with Me" is a song recorded by American rock band Blink-182. The song was released on October 5, 2023, through Columbia Records as the fourth single from their ninth album One More Time.... It was written by bassist Mark Hoppus, guitarist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker, alongside engineer Aaron Rubin and songwriter Nick Long.

References

  1. ↑ Freitas, Ryan De (September 30, 2016). "Joyce Manor: Looking back to move forward". DIY. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  2. 1 2 Troper, Morgan (October 5, 2016). "Joyce Manor's Pop-Punk for Grownups". Portland Mercury. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  3. 1 2 Caramanica, Jon (October 12, 2016). "Even Punks Learn Regret. 'Cody' Is Joyce Manor's Take on Aging". The New York Times. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  4. ↑ Kelly, Harlan (October 9, 2016). "Joyce Manor on Writing Songs From the Pop-Punk Subconscious". Westword. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  5. 1 2 "Joyce Manor: Cody, PopMatters". PopMatters. November 1, 2016. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  6. ↑ Baines, Huw (October 28, 2024). "What Do You Think About Joyce Manor? Barry Johnson Talks 'Cody'". Stereoboard.com. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  7. ↑ "x.com". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  8. ↑ Strauss, Matthew (September 15, 2016). "Joyce Manor: "Last You Heard of Me"". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  9. 1 2 McGovern, Kyle (September 14, 2016). "Joyce Manor Continue Hot Streak With New Track "Last You Heard of Me"". SPIN. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  10. 1 2 Robinson, Collin (September 14, 2016). "Joyce Manor – "Last You Heard Of Me"". Stereogum. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  11. ↑ Geslani, Michelle (September 14, 2016). "Joyce Manor preview new album with wistful "Last You Heard of Me" -- listen". Consequence. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  12. ↑ Sacher, Andrew (October 5, 2016). "Joyce Manor made a creepy video for "Last You Heard of Me"". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  13. ↑ Gaca, Anna (October 5, 2016). "Watch Joyce Manor's New "Last You Heard of Me" Video". SPIN. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  14. ↑ Moreland, Quinn (October 12, 2016). "Joyce Manor: Cody". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  15. ↑ Chelosky, Danielle (January 11, 2024). "Joyce Manor Albums From Worst To Best". Stereogum. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.