Real Life is the debut studio album by Joan As Police Woman (Joan Wasser), released by Reveal Records in the United Kingdom on June 12, 2006, and a year later in the United States.
| Real Life | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 12, 2006 (UK); June 12, 2007 (US) | |||
| Genre | Jazz, pop rock | |||
| Length | 38:14 Bonus disc: 15:25 | |||
| Label | Reveal Records (United Kingdom) | |||
| Producer | Joan Wasser | |||
| Joan as Police Woman chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B+[2] |
| The Guardian |  [3] |
| musicOMH | [4] |
| Pitchfork Media | 8.1/10[5] |
| Rolling Stone | [6] |
| Spin | 7/10[7] |
| Stylus Magazine | B+[8] |
| Tiny Mix Tapes | [9] |
In addition to the standard jewel-case release, it was released in a limited-edition digipak[10] with Wasser art card and as a 2-disc expanded edition.[11]
"I Defy" was co-written by the Antony and the Johnsons' singer Antony Hegarty, who also contributed vocals to the track. In September 2006, she performed a live-session at the BBC.[12]
The album has received much critical acclaim, being variously described as "splendidly slinky",[5] "a magical journey",[13] and "a fine showcase".[8] In her review in The Guardian, Caroline Sullivan described the album as "pensive and gentle; sometimes stately of tempo, sometimes slightly breathless, but always erring on the side of lovely understatement."[3]
In early 2008, Real Life won in the 7th Annual Independent Music Awards for Best Pop/Rock Album.[14]
It was awarded a silver certification from the Independent Music Companies Association which indicated sales of at least 30,000 copies throughout Europe.[15]
Track listing
editAll compositions by Joan Wasser except as indicated.
- "Real Life" – 4:38
- "Eternal Flame" – 3:39
- "Feed the Light" – 3:41
- "The Ride" – 3:09
- "I Defy" (Anohni Hegarty, Wasser) – 3:32
- "Flushed Chest" – 3:55
- "Christobel" – 3:06
- "Save Me" – 3:44
- "Anyone" – 4:50
- "We Don't Own It" – 3:55
The 2-CD edition had the additional tracks:
- "Show Me the Life" – 2:32
- "Broken Eyes" – 2:48
- "Sweet Thing" (David Bowie) – 3:13
- "Happiness Is a Violator (For Condoleezza Rice)" – 1:53
- "Endless Supply of Poison" – 0:52
- "We Don't Own It" – 4:04
Musicians
editJoan As Police Woman:
- Joan Wasser – vocals, piano, guitar, violin, viola, bass guitar, strings, wurlitzer, keyboards
- Rainy Orteca – bass guitar, vocals
- Ben Perowsky – drums, percussion, vocals, tambourine
with:
- Jeff Hill – cello, bass guitar
- Joseph Arthur – vocals, keyboards, piano, drums
- Antony Hegarty – vocals
- Doug Wieselman – bass clarinet, tenor saxophone, clarinet
- Steven Bernstein – trumpet
- Briggan Krauss – baritone saxophone
- Charles Burnham – vocals
References
edit- ^ Phares, Heather. "Real Life Review". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2023-03-10. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
- ^ Greenblatt, Leah (June 8, 2007). "Real Life". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
- ^ a b "Joan As Police Woman, Real Life" Archived 2008-05-28 at the Wayback Machine, The Guardian, by Caroline Sullivan, 21 Dec 2006
- ^ Hubbard, Michael (June 12, 2006). "Joan As Police Woman – Real Life" Archived 2013-02-02 at the Wayback Machine. musicOMH. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
- ^ a b "Joan as Police Woman: Real Life". Pitchfork. August 27, 2007. Archived from the original on 2023-01-31. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
- ^ "Joan As Police Woman". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
- ^ Hunter, James (July 23, 2007). "Joan As Police Woman, 'Real Life'". Spin. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
- ^ a b Forrester, Iain (Sep 13, 2006). "Joan as Police Woman - Real Life - Review". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on Mar 3, 2016.
- ^ Berman, Judy. "Joan as Police Woman – Real Life / B-Sides" Archived 2016-01-28 at the Wayback Machine. Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
- ^ Real Life, Reveal, 2006-06-12, archived from the original on 2024-08-25, retrieved 2016-12-04
- ^ Real Life, Reveal Records, 2007-07-23, archived from the original on 2024-08-25, retrieved 2016-12-04
- ^ "Joan as Police Woman – Archive session (2006), 20/10/2011, Gideon Coe - BBC Radio 6 Music". BBC. Retrieved 2016-12-06.
- ^ "Joan As Police Woman – Real Life – Your London Reviews". IndieLondon. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2016-12-04.
- ^ Independent Music Awards – 7th Annual Winners Archived 2009-03-06 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "IMPALA announces new award winners for independents music companies". IMPALA Music. 15 June 2007. Archived from the original on 2017-08-05.