are a band that I’ve never been able to completely embrace.  I’m not entirely sure why this is, and the most logical reason could simply be that I just haven’t heard very much of their material.  From what I have heard, I’ve liked some, and disliked others.  At their best, they manage to combine brutal honesty with humour (see Hey Boy… You’re Oh So Sensitive), while at the other end of the spectrum they can prove to be too pessimistic even for a miserable sod such as myself.

I have no idea where this new EP is going to fall on that spectrum, though the title Your Pain is a Joke Next to Mines is perhaps something of a hint.  On the merits of Stuart’s Got a Dirty Book though, I’m looking forward to hearing the full thing.  It’s a glorious tale that manages to combine two somewhat conflicting topics: religion and masturbation.  It’s hard to imagine many bands that could get away with lyrics like “struggling with the word of god / a hand on my bible, a hand on my knob”, putting The Just Joans into a rather unique position.

MP3 The Just Joans – Stuart’s Got a Dirty Book

Your Pain is a Joke Next to Mines is available to pre-order now from the ever delightful WeePOP! label, and best of all, it’ll only cost you £4 including delivery.

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