Sistahs

Sistahs
Studio album by Big Joanie
Released	November 30, 2018
Recorded	November 2017 – January 2018
Studio	Hermitage Works Studio
Genre	Art punk post-punk punk rock
Length	31:16
Label	Daydream Library Series [1]
Producer	Margo Broom

Sistahs is the debut album of Big Joanie. ^[2] It was released in 2018 ^[3] on Thurston Moore and Eva Prinz's Daydream Library Series label ^[4] after the two saw the band open for The Ex and discovered that the band had yet to release an album. ^[2]

Composition

Sistahs holds musical footing in art punk, post-punk and "fearlessly discordant" punk rock. ^{[1] [2] [4] [5]} It has been noted for pushing the latter genre forward. ^[5] However, its songs are musically eclectic and experimental, with goth, jangle pop, lo-fi and trance sounds nestled in it. ^{[2] [5]}

Leading single "Fall Asleep" is a "tough" dance-punk song that "burst[s] forth with synths and handclaps", recalling 80s and 90s sounds. ^[2] It also dons a "power pop base" and a "light new wave trance". ^{[2] [5]} "Used To Be Friends" takes on early-80s indie pop while echoing riot grrrl. ^[5] "Down Down" is "sexy" surf rock with "a demented surf pop riff". ^[5] "How Could You Love Me" has "rolling" melodies of 50s power pop. ^[5]

Reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	73/100 [6]
Review scores
Source	Rating
The Guardian	[1]
Pitchfork	7.6/10 [7]
Rolling Stone	[4]

Upon its release, Sistahs was welcomed with generally positive reviews from music critics. On Metacritic, it holds a score of 73 out of 100, indicating "generally favorable reviews", based on four reviews. ^[6]

The Quietus called the album "a fresh and rich take on DIY punk." ^[2] Rolling Stone gave the album 3.5 stars and said "It's a record that’s bold, catchy and arresting." ^[4]

Accolades

Publication	Country	List	Rank	Ref.
The Quietus	UK	Quietus Albums Of The Year 2018	60	[8]

Track listing

All songs by Big Joanie.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"New Year"	3:17
2.	"Fall Asleep"	2:56
3.	"Used to Be Friends"	2:08
4.	"Eyes"	4:11
5.	"Way Out"	2:08
6.	"Down Down"	1:24
7.	"Tell a Lie"	2:07
8.	"Token"	3:00
9.	"It's You"	2:22
10.	"How Could You Love Me"	3:37
11.	"Cut Your Hair"	4:04
Total length:		31:16

Personnel

All credits adapted from the record's Bandcamp page. ^[9]

Big Joanie

• Stephanie Phillips - vocals, guitar
• Estella Adeyeri - bass
• Chardine Taylor-Stone - drums

Additional musicians

• Seth Evans - Wurlitzer on "Cut Your Hair"

Technical

• Margo Broom - production, recording, mixing

References

1. Snapes, Laura (30 November 2018). "Big Joanie: Sistahs review – fearlessly discordant punk debut". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 29 August 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
2. Steiner, Melissa Rakshana (29 November 2018). "Family Trio: Big Joanie's Sistahs". The Quietus . Archived from the original on 14 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
3. Moreland, Quinn (3 August 2020). "Big Joanie Cover Solange's "Cranes in the Sky": Listen". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on 17 August 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
4. Grow, Kory (3 December 2018). "Review: Big Joanie's Excellent Art-Punk LP 'Sistahs'". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 30 August 2020.
5. Eric Rosso (December 17, 2018). "Big Joanie - Sistahs". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on August 13, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
6. "Sistahs by Big Joanie Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic . Archived from the original on August 13, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
7. Pelly, Jenn (17 December 2018). "Sistahs: Big Joanie". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
8. Luke Turner (December 25, 2018). "Quietus Albums Of The Year 2018, In Association With Norman Records". The Quietus . Archived from the original on August 14, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
9. "Sistahs by Big Joanie". bigjoanie.bandcamp.com. Archived from the original on November 16, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.