Joey Cape
A Good Year To Forget
Fat Wreck Chords
Released: August 13, 2021
Lagwagon’s head-honcho Joey Cape has had a rough year, and his new solo record projects just that.
As expected, many of us – musicians included, have had a bloody tough time these last two years. Some, as evident here, rougher than others. Off the bat, the usual happy go luck Joey Cape isn’t present here. This is Cape reflecting on some seriously hard times. Death of loved ones, divorce and moving back home as a fully grown adult. That’s before we even begin to acknowledge all that’s happened with this poxy pandemic.
This isn’t the Joey Cape we’ve come to know and love as frontman of Lagwagon, a solo artist, or playing the odd cover tune with Me First & The Gimme Gimmes. This is a stripped down, pulled back, dark and sad Cape – and I don’t think I like it. Not the music, I fully love that side of things. I hope this is what it takes for Cape to flush his system, get back on his feet and get back in the saddle. In the meantime, musically, this new side of him is an interesting showcase of the human side to that man on the stage. This maybe the most honest and earnest version of Joey Cape we’re ever likely to see.
Years ago, I had the chance to chat with Mike Ness of Social Distortion, and we spoke on end about White Light, White Heat, White Trash – and the circumstances in Ness‘ life that lead up to that record. Like Cape, Ness was going through some really hard times when writing that record. What I’m trying to say is we get knocked down – but we get up again. Throughout his career, Cape has sung the songs that remind him of the good times, sung the songs that remind him of the best times – and now he uses his music for therapy. By doing so, he exposes himself for the vulnerable human he is – and in the process, probably relates to a whole slew of his fans that are going through similar situations.
See Also: Chuck Robertson And Friends “All Out Of Dreams” Review
In a way, I suppose these songs are the continuation of 2019’s Let Me Know When You Give Up; we just didn’t know it at the time. That album had hints that things weren’t as grand as they could be. Still, it was by and large an upbeat record about the trials and tribulations of life. Existence. Introspection. The vibe though, wasn’t as solemn as it is on A Good Year To Forget, however. The most notable difference between these two records though, is that A Good Year To Forget stays mostly acoustic, walking the folk and country paths, while Let Me Know When You Give Up had its moments of outright rock n’ roll.
Cape conveys his emotional baggage so beautifully here, there is a great piece of slide guitar blues found on We Might Be Wrong. For the most part, this is a record where the lyrics are the most important part of the package. On Under The Doormat, Cape waxes poetically about leaving home, although he doesn’t want to do so. There is some wonderful Latin inspired guitar work, and great lyrics, found on The Poetry In Our Mistakes. On Come Home, Cape relays the story of how he was down and out, surviving on the contents of his bank account while living in a motel room, until a phone call lead him back home. And of course the title track, A Good Year To Forget, is the synopsis of the whole package – the downward spiral. The good news though, is that once you’ve hit the bottom, the only way is back up, and A Good Year To Forget is the first steps in that trajectory.
Joey Cape’s newest solo works are available through Fat Wreck Chords right now. Check it out.
For Fans Of: Bad Astronaut, Tony Sly, Chuck Robertson And Friends
Track Listing:
01. A Good Year To Forget
02. Nickel And Lead
03. The Poetry In Our Mistakes
04. It Could Be Real
05. Check Your Ego At The Door
06. We Might Be Wrong
07. Saturday Night Fever
08. Under The Doormat
09. Infertile Ground
10. Heavy Lies The Head
11. Fictional
12. Come Home
