Simon JoynerBest Simon Joyner Albums Ranked

Hotel Lives

pitchfork

8.3

“The wallpaper is rippled from its age, sagging and pregnant with the water leaking in from above. The window panes are mildewed and cobwebbed, and a dozen insect corpses lie scattered on the sill. They are the victims of the naked bulb that hangs from the ceiling, casting a dull glow on the bed, which vibrates if you put enough quarters in the slot on the headboard. The scent of alcohol snakes thr”

The Lousy Dance

pitchfork

7.8

“Simon Joyner is that rarest of things in the world of modern popular music. He's a singer, songwriter, poet and artist. Oh, and he's also a damned fine Leonard Cohen impersonator. Okay, that last part's not true, and it's probably a bit unfair, too-- Simon Joyner is no one's clone. (I just wanted to get my crass, hackneyed comparisons out of the way as early as possible before I started in with m”

Lost With the Lights On

pitchfork

7.3

“Singer/songwriter's latest album for Jagjaguwar draws comparison, as usual, to Leonard Cohen, with vividly poetic lyrics set to morose, tuneful accompaniment.”

Skeleton Blues

pitchfork

7.2

“Simon Joyner's 10th proper album is among his noisiest and most accessible, as he allows his backing band to inflate his typically sparse narratives with unruly rock dynamism.”

Out Into the Snow

pitchfork

6.8

“Like a modern-day Leonard Cohen, Simon Joyner's poetic lyrics and beaten-down vocals gesture as much to characters or melodies as they do articulate them.”

Beautiful Losers - Singles and Compilation Tracks 1994-1999

pitchfork

6.5

“Subtitled Singles and Compilation Tracks 1994-1999, this Jagjaguwar collection features hyperactive fingerpicking, melodic dirges, hard-strummed laments, and even a few passing stabs at rock.”