JOAN AS POLICE WOMAN-“To Survive”

Joan As Police Woman (a trio fronted by Joan Wasser of Antony & The Johnsons) occupies a strange space between ‘90s-style alt-rock chick music and the hipster folk of Regina Spektor. The new record, “To Survive,” is a solid release, the kind you’d expect from their last release. Some very well done quiet piano tunes, without swells or pomp, and then some nice pop ditties. For example, “Holiday” is Joan’s take on a Joni Mitchell song. And I don’t mean it’s just similar, I mean it’s like a spitting image. It’s also really good. I can’t figure out why I like it so much more than most JM tunes. The album’s quieter moments are often where true original brilliance comes out. “To Be Lonely” is a beautiful song that will haunt you hours after you hear it, and yet it is simple and so soft you must strain to hear it. It’s the masterpiece of the album. After hearing it, even the duet with Rufus Wainwright on “To America” is a mere afterthought.

To Be Lonely