How Memory Works

1998 studio album by Joan of Arc

How Memory Works

Studio album by

Joan of Arc

Released

May 12, 1998

Recorded

October 1997 – February 1998

Studio

Electrical Audio, Elliot's Loft, Truckstop

Genre

Indie rock

Length

38:04

Label

Jade Tree

Joan of Arc chronology

A Portable Model Of
(1997)

How Memory Works
(1998)

Live in Chicago, 1999
(1999)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
Pitchfork Media	4.6/10^[2]
Sputnikmusic	4/5^[3]

How Memory Works is the second full-length album by the American band Joan of Arc.^[4] It was released in 1998 on Jade Tree Records. The artwork of the album suggests that it is something of a companion to the debut album, A Portable Model Of...: the booklets for both records contain the phrase "a portable model of... how memory works."

Production

Sessions for How Memory Works were held between October 1997 and February 1998. Nearly half of the album was recorded and mixed by Casey Rice at Electrical Audio, with assistance from Rob Bochnik and Greg Norman. The remaining songs were recorded and mixed by Elliot Dicks, Jeremy Boyle and Tim Kinsella at Elliot's Loft and Truckstop. Rice sequencing the album, while Alan Douches mastered it at West West Side Music in New Jersey.^[5]

Critical reception

The Village Voice wrote: "Tempos and volumes rise and fall unexpectedly, as [Tim] Kinsella's squirrelly guitar and voice register a whole gawky wonderama of awkward silences with surprising nerd authority for someone still shy of 25."^[6]

Track listing

All songs written by Joan of Arc.^[5]

"Honestly Now" – 0:48
"Gin & Platonic" – 3:32
"To've Had Two Of" – 3:07
"This Life Cumulative" – 3:41
"A Pale Orange" – 6:47
"White Out" – 3:50
"So Open; Hooray!" – 4:23
"A Name" – 3:08
"Osmosis Doesn't Work" – 3:33
"God Bless America" – 2:22
"A Party Able Model Of" – 2:52

Personnel

Personnel per booklet.^[5]

Joan of Arc

Eric Bocek – guitar
Jeremy Boyle – guitar
Tim Kinsella – vocals, guitar
Mike Kinsella – drums
Sam Zurick – bass guitar

Additional musicians

Marty Ackley – musical saw (track 9)
Zach Fiocca – vibraphone (track 3)
Julie Pomerleau – violin (tracks 3 and 11), viola (tracks 3 and 11)
Griffin Rodriquez – cello (track 3)

Production and design

Casey Rice – recording (tracks 2–4, 6, 8 and 10), mixing (tracks 2–4, 6, 8 and 10), sequencing
Rob Bochnik – assistance
Greg Norman – assistance
Elliot Dicks – recording (tracks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11), mixing (tracks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11)
Jeremy Boyle – recording (tracks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11), mixing (tracks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11), cover painting
Tim Kinsella – recording (tracks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11), mixing (tracks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11)
Alan Douches – mastering
Jason Gnewikow – photography, art direction, design

References

^ Phares, Heather. How Memory Works at AllMusic
^ Mirov, Nick. "Joan Of Arc: How Memory Works". Archived from the original on October 7, 1999.
^ "Joan of Arc - How Memory Works (album review ) | Sputnikmusic". www.sputnikmusic.com.
^ "Joan of Arc Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
^ ^a ^b ^c How Memory Works (booklet). Joan of Arc. Jade Tree. 1998. JT1037.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Gehr, Richard (21 July 1998). "Yes, this is a concept band's headline". The Village Voice. 43 (29): 109.