Joy

Boston-based indie rockers Joy featured vocalist/guitarist Matt Savage and guitarist Daniel Madri, who had previously collaborated in Godboy. (On some tracks Joy also included drummer Matt Dodge and additional guitarist Ariel Rabinovic.) The group's self-titled 2003 debut for Shrimper nodded to the lo-fi songwriting of Lou Barlow and the Mountain Goats, as well as Guided by Voices' balladry. Released in 2004, Hatred & Grief followed the same template, while Devil's Blues in 2005 (again from Shrimper) expanded Joy's sound to include piano and other instrumentation. ~ Johnny Loftus