Joy Electric: Unelectric proves what frontman Ronnie Martin has been preaching for years now: beneath the layers of synthesizers in his sugary confections lurk perfect pop songs, with melodious vocals and hooks Britney Spears would kill for. While the title is somewhat of a misnomer, as the tracks do feature quite a bit of synthesized strings and programmed drums, Unelectric is a worthwhile addition to any fan’s collection, and may also attract those who can’t get past Martin’s moogs and helium-high vocals.

Here’s the basic schtick: Martin writes all Joy Electric songs, regardless of their speed, as ballads on acoustic piano. So Unelectric, in essence, takes the songs back to their purest form, and then embellishes them with programmed drums, acoustic guitars, and the aforementioned strings. Sometimes this works (“Monosynth” and “The Girl From Rosewood Lane” are particularly lovely as “acoustic” pieces), and sometimes it doesn’t (“Sugar Rush” is about 80 beats per minute too slow to be enjoyable). In some cases, Martin drops his vocal pitch nearly two octaves - this is particularly noticeable on “True Harmony.”

Also included are two new tracks, “These Should Be the Good Times” and “Losing Touch With Everyone.” The latter is a true Joy Electric classic, with lyrics similar to those found on Martin’s best albums, Melody and Five Stars For Failure:

Time makes a book, marked for use
But soon we forget how
Hands strike a bell, strings are loosed
And the mountains crumble
What would need to be
For the good of our lives?

Now as we grow old
Who are you, and where am I?

Unelectric isn’t without its problems: it falls into the same sort of monotony past albums have, as most of the songs have the exact same tempo and instrumentation. Unfortunately, it’s also likely to be seen as a novelty album from a novelty band, and is not likely to bring Ronnie Martin the respect he has sought after (and has deserved!) these past five years. However, to those of us who “get it,” it’s a classic, and worth every cent of that $16 the Christian bookstores are asking.


Joy Electric's Official Website
www.joyelectric.com