In the West, circa mid-1970s, rock music was ridden with arthritis. Little wonder then that a new generation of musicians turned to nihilistic punk. Thirty years later, such posturing is at best laughable, at worst, bizarre. Fortunately, the punkoid foursome Joyside, established in 2001 in a Beijing basement, presents a tribute to the punk ethos rather than a caricature. Even if they might bring a smile to the faces of the originals. Joyside have the Sex Pistol’s attitude down pat with their messy, greasy hair and beer fragrance. And their music is equally crude. The sound, as you’ve no doubt gathered by now, is basic raw punk, created by Xin Shanug’s three-chord-guitar riffs and Bian Yuan’s much-abused voice. It sounds authentic: noisy, loud, and, like the Pistols, surprisingly melodic. That said, explicit lyrics are Joyside’s main asset. Numbers like “I Want Beer” and “I Wanna Piss Around You” say it all. Or almost all. There’s rebellion too – “I Don’t Care About your Society”, and a nod to the band’s great inspiration: “The Saviour Johnny Rotten”. But that was then. This is now. Joyside’s latest release -- the demo B_tches of Rock’n’ Roll – is less raw, more over-produced pop. Which is to say it’s an improvement. Less vicious than Sid, and less rotten than Johnny.
Modernsky/Badhead

(c) that's Shanghai Magazine
Chief editor: Steven Crane
May 2006 issue