Too Much Joy – “Son of Sam I Am (Tommy’s Version)”

Too Much Joy’s Son of Sam I Am (Tommy’s Version) is a big reissue of their first real breakthrough album. This is the one that originally got them picked up by Warner Bros., and it’s where they really locked into their sound—punk roots, sharp humor, and some genuinely fun songwriting.

This version includes the full original record plus a mountain of extras. You get early demos, outtakes, new remixes, and even a few re-recorded songs that show how the band still plays some of these live. There’s a ska version of “Clowns” that nearly got them sued by Bozo the Clown, and “Rap Like Mine,” which proves the label was absolutely right to bury it, and “My Past Lives” gets a new 2025 version and the original demo, which is a nice side-by-side look at how their stuff evolved. “Train in Vain” has a ridiculous backstory involving bonus tracks and mistaken Clash royalties, which is exactly the kind of chaos you’d expect from these guys.

This release is unique because Too Much Joy pulling together years of history and putting it all out there for the fans. If you like weird, smart indie rock, go stream it or grab it on Bandcamp. Follow them online to see what else they’ve got coming in 2025.