Pop/rock duo joan release debut album ‘superglue’
Alan Benjamin Thomas and Steven Rutherford reflect on fatherhood, family, and the importance of love in their latest release, ‘superglue.’
“Tie your shoes, brush your hair, call me in, I’ll be there. I’ll give you every piece of me.” Expanding on their penchant for love songs, Joan gains inspiration from their recent entry into fatherhood. With 13 tracks and a running time of 34 minutes, listeners are immersed in their most personal project yet.
The opening track, “life death & everything between,” opens with recordings of baby laughter and the occasional piano note. The duo takes this time to reflect on their changing lives and question the plan set out for them. “It’s all life and death, and everything between. Surely it all has some sort of meaning. Right?” The track serves as the prologue of the album’s story - an explanation of where they’ve been, where they’re going and everything in between.
Three upbeat, pop-heavy songs follow the more stripped-back opener. Simple, loner, and nervous each have a nostalgic feel to them. Reflecting on past love, past lives, and first date nerves - nervous’s chorus encompasses the narrative of tracks 2-4. “Twist the chain on my necklace. Try not to throw up my breakfast, and I'm obsеssively trying to hide. You make mе na-na, nervous” Thomas and Rutherford reflect on their lives and how they’ve reached the stable and family-oriented lives they live now.
Monster is where the album transitions from primarily love songs to songs with a strong foundation in their newfound families. “When the monsters come out, out of the dark, I will always be right here. Put a mark on the wall, tell them to get lost, every time they reappear, I'm gonna hold you.” The lyrics promising protection and support from monsters can be interpreted as promises made to their children - protection from nightmares or monsters under the bed. Falling in Love continues the pattern with lyrics that could be interpreted as both falling in love with their partners or falling in love with their new role as fathers.
Overall, ‘superglue’ is a love letter to their family. The promise of undying love and unwavering support is a common thread that follows listeners from the opening track through the finale. Upbeat melodies and easy-to-follow lyrics keep the listener hooked throughout the entire work. The evolution of their sound reflects the evolution of their lives and leaves a promise of what’s to come. Joan’s debut album leaves an emotional mark on its listeners and opens the doors for a promising future.