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For those familiar with the work of Tim Kinsella and that of his sometimes-bandmates and family members, Mike Kinsella and Nate Kinsella, it may come as no surpise that the Joan of Arc outfit has released yet another record this year. Kinsella and co. put out more music every half decade than most musicians do over the course of their entire careers. The record entitled "Boo Human" came out in May, just weeks after the release of "Going to the Bone Church," by Make Believe, another project of Tim Kinsella's.

Part of what's so appealing about Kinsella's musicianship is how vastly different each of his primary bands are: Make Believe, being the rowdier, less-constrained of the two, with Joan of Arc remaining its more polite, controlled, and accessible counterpart. Stylistically, the former equivalent of Make Believe was Owls, having shared virtually the same lineup, but falling somewhere in between the other two in terms of their liveliness. Joan of Arc, on the other hand, could be the most unconventional of all of Tim Kinsella's ventures, considering that every time they put something new out, it's not perpetual of their prior work. To some ears, this characteristic steers them clear of Joan of Arc; others, like myself, regard this as rewarding every time a new record comes out: "Boo Human," being no exception.













Joan of Arc - A Tell Tale Penis (Video)

Over the course of the past ten years or so, both Tim Kinsella and his brother, Mike, have established themselves as two of the most clever and well-versed songwriters around. Along with their respective bands and enduring work ethics, both have become staples of Chicago's diverse and energetic music scene. Mike Kinsella's solo project, Owen, is full of humble, apprehensive acoustic guitars, sometimes accompanied by electric guitar, bass, strings, and calculated percussion. The multi-instrumentalist Kinsella plays each instrument so well that it's often difficult to establish whether he's a better guitarist or drummer. His skill pertaining to every aspect of his music, from the production of it to its execution, has set him apart from all other acoustic acts today, creating a sound distinctly his own. Do yourself a favor and listen to "Good Friends, Bad Habits" at Owen's myspace page.

Meanwhile, Tim is much more well known for his membership in Make Believe and JOA than his criminally overlooked solo work. I have a feeling that he doesn't mind too much though. If you've ever seen him play live, you'll understand that he sings and that apparently, is just what he is meant to do.

Joan of Arc - White Out (from the "How Memory Works" LP)
Joan of Arc - A Tell Tale Penis (from "Boo Human" LP)

Owls - Everyone Is My Friend (from "s/t" LP)

Make Believe - Pat Tillman, Emmitt Till (from the "Of Course" LP)

Owen - A Fevor Analog (from Daytrotter Sessions)