Congrats on making it halfway through the work week. We hope it's going better that this guys:

Gif taken from the Half Japanese video "Hold On" from the album "Perfect"

What is it that you do at JNR?

Look after/help interns, keep online presence up to date and relevant. I try to make things fun and interesting.

In the past I've also done publicity, project management, some PR, all kinds of stuff.

Do you have a memorable JNR release/project/etc?

That's too dangerous for me to say.

What about a record that got you into music?

As a kid I loved the Bare Necessities 45 from the Jungle Book soundtrack.

If you were a hamburger what toppings would you have?

I would definitely be a grass fed, pasture raised burger. I died from natural causes. As far as toppings go just mayo, like an entire jar, and maybe with fresh greens from garden.

If your life were a cartoon who would draw it?

It’s already been drawn. Bill Watterson did it.

What’s your pick of the week?

Nick Cave - Push The Sky Away

Listen to Daniel's pick below and stay tuned for the next installment of What's In Your Ear.

Vinyl and spirit pairings from Joyful Noise's own beverage enthusiast Kiely:

We at JNR love a lot of things, but some of our favorites are listening to records and taking in a nice adult beverage, preferably at the same time. We would like to offer you our latest recommendation for the newest album "Command Your Weather" by Big Business.

We have two equally distinguished offerings for you. First, the Distorter Porter from Greenbush Brewing, a delightfully malty and semi-heavy beer that straddles the line between porter and stout. Best complemented by a shot (or more) of Backbone Bourbon, one of the Midwest finest (and strongest) bourbon offerings. This testosterone-inducing combo is bound to get your heart pumping. You'll probably start feeling the urge to break something right around Track 3, and who are we to discourage you from doing so? 

"Sonderlust" is an album forged through heartbreak. After his two previous studio albums ("151a" & "Lighght"), Kishi Bashi was at a musical impasse. "As I sat down to write songs last summer, I went to all my usual conduits of creation: violin loops, guitar, piano, and I came up with the musical equivalent of fumes", says K Ishibashi. "I tried to create orchestral pop recordings that I assumed were my forte, and in turn I found myself standing in front of a creative wall of frightening heights."

At this very same moment of musical uncertainty, K's personal life was falling apart… He and his wife of 13 years had briefly separated and were struggling to keep their marriage together. In his own words, "Touring and its accompanying lifestyle took a heavy toll on my soul and my family". As an outlet, K submerged himself in a new musical direction. Sonderlust emerged as a direct result of this personal struggle taking place at an artistic crossroads.

With the help of producer Chris Taylor (Grizzly Bear), engineer Pat Dillet (Angelique Kidjo, David Byrne) and drummer Matt Chamberlain (Morrissey, Fiona Apple, of Montreal), Kishi Bashi has created his most personal and artistically adventurous work to date. "This album is straight from my soul. I questioned everything about what it means to love and desire. The difference between loving someone and being in love."

You can get the preorder HERE and stream the new single below. Head over to NPR's Facebook HERE to watch his live interview with All Songs Considered where he plays some other new songs from the album! 

Announcing his new album, "Sonderlust"  and sharing some new songs, Kishi Bashi stopped by All Songs Considered for a behind-the-scenes interview. Watch below! 

Go see Kishi Bashi performing his new album, "Sonderlust" at one of the tour stops below, and get ready by preordering the album HERE.

September 27 - Athens, GA - Georgia Theatre - TICKETS

September 30 - Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle - TICKETS

October 1 - Silver Spring, MD - FIllmore Silver Spring - TICKETS

October 2 - New York, NY - Webster Hall - TICKETS

October 3 - Boston, MA - Royale - TICKETS

October 4 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer - TICKETS

October 6 - Toronto, Canada - Virgin Mobile Mod Club - TICKETS

October 8 - Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom & Tavern - TICKETS

October 9 - Pontiac, MI - The Crofoot Ballroom - TICKETS

October 10 - Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre - TICKETS

October 11 - St. Louis, MO - Delmar Hall - TICKETS

October 15 - Englewood, CO - Gothic Theatre - TICKETS

October 16 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge - TICKETS

October 18 - Seattle, WA - The Showbox - TICKETS

October 19 - Vancouver, BC - Fox Cabaret - TICKETS

October 20 - Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom - TICKETS

October 21 - San Francisco, CA - The Masonic - TICKETS

October 22 - Santa Cruz, CA - The Catalyst - TICKETS

October 23 - San Diego, CA - Irenic - TICKETS

October 24 - Los Angeles, CA - Belasco Theater - TICKETS

October 26 - Tucson, AZ - Club Congress - TICKETS

November 1 - New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks - TICKETS

November 2 - Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse - TICKETS

Follow him on Bandsintown to never miss when he stops by!

Congrats to Big Business on the release their 5th album, "Command Your Weather"!  With this one, the band went back to the original two-person lineup made up of Jared Warren (Melvins) and Coady Willis (Melvins).  "Command Your Weather" is available on gold or black LP, CD, cassette, or digital.  

It's heavy, it's loud, and it's now available in the JNR Store!  Get it here!

Have a listen below:

If you've ever thought, "Gee, I wish Kishi Bashi would vomit lasers in my face," then wish no more.  Our GIF this week has you covered.

From the video for "I Am the Antichrist to You" off of the super delicious album 151a.

The band's upcoming release invokes the spirit of Pure Fun while appeasing their love of Doomed Art. Necronomidonkeykongimicon is an auditory tome of such importance that it needs to be experienced before the Secret Bastards find a way to marginalize it out of existence forever.

Goblin Cock is a band from beyond time, beyond space, beyond your naive concept of dimension in METAL. Since before your pathetic "god" had supposedly "created" you and your kind, Lord Phallus was hunkered in a cybertimeship/fun-dungeon skating the layers of what was considered "true metal" in all societies and in all generations. Eventually His Majesty realized that he really didn't care and launched a full-scale war against bland metal with an emphasis on ACTUALLY HAVING A GOOD TIME! 

Available for preorder here, in purple vinyl, black vinyl, CD, digital. VIP exclusive comes in Halloween Orange vinyl w/ Blood Red Splatter and a bonus EP, a Cock Opera entitled “Dragonfucker” on a black 12” – with a screen-printed b-side, featuring visual art by Craig Horky. Stream the single "Something Haunted" below and check out the premiere on Stereogum HERE.

We here at JNR are super lucky to have been able to collaborate with Jad and David Fair on multiple occasions. Half Japanese put out their last album with us a couple years ago and Jad was our first artist in residence. We think that their music really embodies the idea of what Joyful Noise is supposed to be about. Getting interesting music to people who can relate to the creators.

With Shake, Cackle and Squall we see the duo going back to their roots. Two guys, some drums, and a guitar. It contains their signature lo-fi sound and honest, from-the-heart lyrics. The magic day is August 5th and is available for pre order now on CD, LP, Digital, or a nice limited edition yellow colored vinyl version for our VIPs. 

Brooklyn Vegan is streaming the first single "In Between Alive and Dead" right now. Read the article HERE and stream the song below!