American Whip
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = American Whip
| type = studio
| artist = Joy Zipper
| cover = American Whip.jpg
| alt =
| released = 2002
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = *Dream pop
- shoegaze
- indie pop{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/american-whip-mw0000141468|title=American Whip - Joy Zipper | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic|website=AllMusic}}
| length = 41:40
| language = English
| label = 13 Amp Recordings Records
| producer =
- Vincent Cafiso
- Tabitha Tindale
| prev_title = Joy Zipper
| prev_year = 1999
| next_title = The Stereo and God
| next_year = 2003
| misc = {{Singles
| name = American Whip
| type = studio
| single1 = Ronhttps://www.discogs.com/release/1375117-Joy-Zipper-Ron
| single1date = 2002
| single2 = Baby You Should Knowhttps://www.discogs.com/release/1391884-Joy-Zipper-Baby-You-Should-Know
| single2date = 2004
| single3 = Out of the Sunhttps://www.discogs.com/release/1391932-Joy-Zipper-Out-Of-The-Sun
| single3date = 2004
}}
}}
American Whip is the second album by the New York dream pop duo Joy Zipper released in 2002.https://www.discogs.com/release/1271317-Joy-Zipper-American-Whip
Track listing
All songs written by Vincent Cafiso, except where noted.https://www.discogs.com/release/1391951-Joy-Zipper-American-Whip
{{Track listing
| all_writing =
| title1 = Sunstroke
| length1 = 1:00
| title2 = Christmas Song
| length2 = 3:39
| title3 = Baby You Should Know
| length3 = 4:31
| writer3 = Tabitha Tindale
| title4 = 33x
| length4 = 3:25
| title5 = Out of the Sun
| length5 = 4:29
| writer5 = Cafiso, Tindale
| title6 = Drugs
| length6 = 0:24
| title7 = Dosed and Became Invisible
| length7 = 4:16
| title8 = Alzheimers
| length8 = 4:32
| title9 = Ron
| length9 = 3:37
| title10 = In the Never Ending Search for a Suitable Enemy
| length10 = 6:19
| title11 = VSX
| length11 = 0:53
| writer11 = Cafiso, Tindale
| title12 = Valley Stream
| length12 = 4:35
| writer12 = Cafiso, Tindale
| total_length = 41:40
}}
Critical reaction
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{Cite web|url= https://www.allmusic.com/album/american-whip-mw0000141468|title=Joy Zipper - American Whip | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic|via=www.allmusic.com}}
| rev2 = The Guardian
| rev2Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{Cite web|url= https://www.theguardian.com/music/2004/mar/19/popandrock.shopping3| title=Joy Zipper, American Whip | The Guardian|website=The Guardian |date=18 March 2004|access-date=22 October 2021|last=Lynskey |first=Dorian}}
| rev3 = Uncut
| rev3Score = {{rating|2|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/reviews/joy-zipper-american-whip-16948/ | title=Joy Zipper - American Whip | Uncut|website=Uncut |date=1 April 2004|access-date=22 October 2021}}
| rev4 = RTÉ
| rev4Score = {{rating|3|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/music-reviews/2004/0319/449057-joyzipper/ | title=Joy Zipper - American Whip|date=19 March 2004|access-date=23 February 2023|last=Guerin|first=Harry| website=RTÉ.ie}}
| rev5 = Slant Magazine
| rev5Score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/joy-zipper-american-whip/ | title=Review: Joy Zipper, American Whip | Slant Magazine|website=Slant Magazine |date=18 January 2005|access-date=22 October 2021|last=Cinquemani|first=Sal}}
|rev6 = Pitchfork
|rev6score = 7.5/10{{cite web |url= https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/4303-american-whip/ |title=Joy Zipper American Whip|website=Pitchfork |date=13 April 2005|access-date=22 October 2021|last=Howe |first=Brian}}
|rev7 = IGN
|rev7score = 8.5/10{{Cite web|url= https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/02/23/american-whip| title=American Whip | IGN|website=IGN |date=23 February 2005|access-date=22 October 2021|last=Springer |first=Matthew}}
|rev8 = PopMatters
|rev8score = 8/10{{Cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/joyzipper-american-2495949741.html|title=Joy Zipper: American Whip | PopMatters|website=PopMatters|date=23 February 2005|access-date=23 February 2023|last=Funk|first=Peter}}
|rev9 = Drowned in Sound
|rev9score = 5/10{{Cite web|url=https://drownedinsound.com/releases/3657/reviews/9452-|title=Joy Zipper American Whip | Drowned in Sound|website=Drowned in Sound|date=20 April 2004|access-date=22 October 2021|last=Robertson|first=Neil|archive-date=22 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022211126/https://drownedinsound.com/releases/3657/reviews/9452-|url-status=dead}}
}}
The BBC's Richard Banks praised "charming melodies, heart-melting harmonies and hazy lo-fi guitars" forming "an intoxicating alt-pop nectar", noting a formula little-changed from their first album. He also discerned a darker side beneath the "saccharine" surface.Richard Banks, [https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/5f3n "Joy Zipper American Whip Review"], 2004-02-11 Pitchfork rated it 7.5/10, calling it "engaging and sharply-drawn", rejecting deeper meanings.Brian Howe, [http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/4303-american-whip/ "Joy Zipper American Whip"], Pitchfork, April 13, 2005 IGN gave it 8.5/10.[http://uk.music.ign.com/articles/590/590249p1.html "American Whip Joy Zipper 'Whip'...it good"] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130103042201/http://uk.music.ign.com/articles/590/590249p1.html |date=2013-01-03 }}, IGN, February 23, 2005
Drowned in Sound scored it 5/10, saying "Joy Zipper are the type of band that think shrouding their songs in a sheet of sub-Kevin Shields drone, drugged-up affectations and bastardised Bacharach melodies makes their pedestrian pop sound urgent, vital and 'edgy.' It doesn't."Neil Robertson, [http://drownedinsound.com/releases/3657/reviews/9452- "Joy Zipper American Whip"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611083344/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/3657/reviews/9452- |date=2013-06-11 }}, Drowned in Sound, April 20, 2004 Uncut called it a new My Bloody Valentine album in all but name, scoring it 4/10.[http://www.uncut.co.uk/joy-zipper/joy-zipper-american-whip-review "Joy Zipper - American Whip" (Album Review)], Uncut