The last time New Orleans ska punk band Joystick put out an album was 2017. Four years is a mere fraction of time in the grand scheme of things. But, lots of things can change in such a short time. As it pertains to the folks in Joystick, change occurred, and it was good. Lead singer Paul “Duck” Tucker got sober for one. Other members of the band experienced major life events as well. Marriage. Home ownership. Children. Lots of change to be sure, but the common denominator here is that the changes led to growth and maturity.
It’s that idea of change that is weaved throughout I Can’t Take it Anymore. Like other ska punk albums that have come before earlier this year, Duck and the gang aren’t afraid to get a little personal this go around. The energy and passion fans of Joystick have come to know and love still exists on the new album, but the lyrical content just hits differently this time.
Two songs on the album that intimately touch on the importance of positive change in one’s life are “Parallelograms” and “Rinse and Repeat”.
The first song talks about Julie, who doesn’t want the party to end, and her tragic end from her inability to change. The second song focuses directly on Duck. It’s an acknowledgement of how bad things got for him in the past, and how much better they are now. Even though those songs touch on some pretty serious content, it’s that raw, genuine honesty showcased in those two songs that sets the tone for the entire album.
It’s refreshing to hear the serious and thoughtful side of ska punk, especially when the genre traditionally has a “stupid party music” stereotype.
“Rinse and Repeat” is extremely personal, and I think it’ll will help people struggling with addiction and self-esteem issues. The courage it takes to put out a song that is so personal and self-aware should be commended. It’s not necessarily my favorite song on the album (that honor belongs to “Carrot and Stick” and “Past Tense”), but I think it’s one of the most important.
Duck’s journey of self-reflection continues on songs like “Damage Boost.” This one is more on the punk side of the spectrum, with dashes of hardcore in the choruses. At its core, it’s a song about being empathetic. Coming from a viewpoint of seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and making it out okay, Duck uses those experiences to let folks know that even at your lowest point, you aren’t alone. It’s another message that’s especially important to hear these days.
Even though the music is more mature and personal this time, it’s not heavy-handed.
Joystick may have grown up, but they didn’t lose the infectious fun from their earlier albums. I Can’t Take it Anymore is enjoyable on multiple levels. If you only care about skanking and moshing to some up tempo ska punk music, then this album is perfect at face value. You’ll miss out on just how good the album really is, but you’ll still really enjoy it. If you want to dig into it a bit more though, your attentiveness will be rewarded greatly.
Stylistically, the music on this album runs the gamut from infectious ska punk, to early ’80s Descendents-esque hardcore. Listeners are even treated to more of a traditional ska/New Orleans jazz fusion on the instrumental “No Sleep After Brooklyn”. If that song doesn’t make you want to dance, then ska may not be the music genre for you.
I get that a lot of people are afraid to grow up. There’s a lot of weight to the idea of getting older and being more mature. I Can’t Take it Anymore is proof that it’s okay to grow up and change. Sometimes, maturity and growth lead to something better than before. This is definitely the case with Joystick’s latest album. They’ve really raised the bar with this one, and I’m already anticipating to see how they grow next. If you want to hear what this generation of ska punk should strive for, this is a good album to consider. It’s a perfect blend of style and substance that will offer something to everyone.