Joie De Vivre- The North End1. Summer in New London- 8.5/102. Salt- 9.5/103. Sundays- 10/104. Upper Deck San Diego- 9/105. Next Year Will Be Better- 10/106. One in the Same- 10/107. I'll Support That- 8/108. The North End- 10/109. Praise Song- 8.5/1010. We're Equals- 9.5/1011. Autumn in New London- 8.5/10Joie De Vivre are an Emo/Indie Rock band from Rockford, Illinois They are on Count Your Lucky Stars Records, which is an up and coming Indie label based in MichiganThe North End is the follow up album to Summer Months. Summer Months was a great, near perfect album. It was pure Chris Simpson worship (of Mineral and Gloria Record) with some influences from some other bands of that era like Penfold, Christie Front Drive, and others. Their second album, The North End, continues to further the resurrection of mid to late 90s Midwestern Emo. However it features a more mature and controlled sound than Summer Months. They expand upon the signature build ups that bands like Mineral made a staple of the mid 90s sound. It also features the addition of more instruments, more polished song writing, and better recording.The North End still has heavy Mineral influence, but the song writing is more mature. They start to find a niche, their own sound. Added to they're sound is more laid back like Promise Ring style like the album 30 Degrees Everywhere, especially in the leads. There is also an overall American Football style feel of controlled melancholy. They rerecorded Sundays a fan favorite from their first album, which is actually better than the original version. There are also reoccurring lyrics and lyrical themes. In the song The North End they rehash music and lyrics from the song This Ship has Sailed from their debut album Summer Months. Normally I would be against rerecording songs from earlier albums and having reoccurring lyrics, but it shows a connection between both albums; a connection of feelings, events, and music. The North End isn't just a second album it's continuation of the path the first album blazed.The Song By Song review is 92%, but with all the intangibles I would give this album a 97%.Similar Artists/Influences: Empire! Empire! (I was a Lonely Estate), Mineral, American Football, Castevet, Penfold, Midwest Pen Pals, It's Just Vanity, The Promise Ring, Annabel, Christie Front Drive, Cross My Heart, Benton Falls, Pop Unknown, Jejune, Colossal, Street Smart Cyclist, Algernon Cadwallader , Kickball, Luck of Aleia, The Gloria Record, Crosstide, Texas is the Reason, Elliott, Evergreen, Broken Hearts are Blue, Football, Etc., Everyone Everywhere, Hightide Hotel, Malegoat, The Summer We went West