Lyrical Lessons in Love

On Damned Devotion, Joan As Police Woman (Joan Wasser) grapples with the paradox of loving another without losing one’s self in the process. The album delves into the feelings of yearning, anticipation and the struggles of a powerful, creative woman allowing herself to experience the lack of control of falling in love. Wasser’s tendency toward stripped-down instrumental arrangements allows her voice to shine, and when she does allow the instruments to make some noise, it is welcome and invigorating.

The album opens with “Wonderful,” and the first glimpse into the raw emotion that runs throughout is stated clearly when she asks “Will I need to fight to make it wonderful?” The dreamy production creates an immersive listening experience while allowing her soulful, impressive vocals to take center stage. The third track, “Tell Me,” is a standout moment of groovy musical catharsis as Joan demands honesty and begs her lover to “Tell me what do you want?” A strong backbeat drives the song, and at the three-minute mark she lets the chorus explode into an ecstatic jam.

The fourth song, the sexually charged “Steed,” brings the funk introduced by “Tell Me” to the forefront. “Steed” flies by with its hypnotic percussion and layered vocals. The title track “Damned Devotion” follows and is aptly named. This one demands attention with a starker sound from the song preceding it, but soon builds into a soaring chorus that does indeed invoke near-religious feelings of devotional songs. Again, the artist explores the vulnerability of love, stating that she “aches for authority”—something that contradicts the usual independence of a creative.

Hitting halfway through the album, “Silence” isn’t afraid to confront the importance of communication in a relationship, even though it may not always be the most comfortable. The spooky instrumental tones and cadence, together with more sober vocals illustrate the exploration of a difficult side of love. The song reaches beyond its application to individual relationships and speaks to the necessity of clear communication between everyone as a society; Joan uses recordings from the Women’s March, and we hear chants of “My body my choice!” and the male response “Her body her choice!” Later, on the deeply emotional “What Was It Like,” Wasser employs strong piano to support a deeply personal song where she speaks of appreciation for the non-romantic love received from a parent. The album winds down with “I Don’t Mind,” which is soulful with a melody that inspires hope and appreciation.

Damned Devotion is an excellent showcase of vocal excellence from Joan As Police Woman, but the impeccable arrangement, skilled production and poetic lyrics are not to be ignored.