BIG BROTHER IS JOY. LITTLE JOY IS CLOSE

It seems that every time the fans pining for a new Strokes album get too restless, another solo project seems to crop up. Despite telling fans that plans are being made to record in early 2009, drummer Fabrizio Moretti recently released an album from his side project—one that sounds nothing like the band that catapulted him to fame, but is every ounce as good.

Named after an LA cocktail lounge, Little Joy is the brainchild of Moretti, Brazilian singer/guitarist Rodrigo Amarante, and multi-instrumentalist Binki Shapiro. Focusing on creating relaxing music that one could imagine listening to beachside, Little Joy makes good use of ukuleles, acoustic guitars, and Sinatra-esque vocals. Ranging from the sunshine pop of "No One's Better Sake" to a more tropicalia-sounding "The Next Time Around," Little Joy's self-titled debut album seems to do it all with elegance.

After listening to Little Joy obsessively over the past few weeks, the only conclusion that I can come to is this: Little Joy is a stellar album that, in the face of a looming Strokes revival, I can only hope is more than a one-off.

TRACKS:
Little Joy - Brand New Start.mp3
Little Joy - No One's Better Sake.mp3
Little Joy - The Next Time Around.mp3