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Real Life is the debut album by Joan as Police Woman, released by Reveal Records in the UK on June 12, 2006, and a year later in the United States.

Real Life
Studio album by Joan as Police Woman
Released	June 12, 2006 (UK); June 12, 2007 (US)
Recorded	Trout Recording, Brooklyn, NY
Genre	Jazz, pop rock
Length	38:14 Bonus disc: 15:25
Label	Reveal Records (United Kingdom)
Producer	Bryce Goggin, Joan Wasser
Joan as Police Woman chronology
Real Life (2006) To Survive (2008)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Entertainment Weekly	B+[2]
The Guardian	[3]
musicOMH	[4]
Pitchfork Media	8.1/10[5]
Rolling Stone	[6]
Spin	7/10[7]
Stylus Magazine	B+[8]
Tiny Mix Tapes	[9]

In addition to the standard jewel-case release, it was released in a limited-edition digipak[10] with Joan Wasser art card and as a 2-disc expanded edition.[11]

"I Defy" was co-written by the Antony and the Johnsons' singer Antony Hegarty, who also contributed vocals to the track. In September 2006, she performed a live-session at the BBC.[12]

The album has received much critical acclaim, being variously described as "splendidly slinky",[13] "a magical journey",[14] and "a fine showcase".[15] In her review in The Guardian, Caroline Sullivan described the album as "pensive and gentle; sometimes stately of tempo, sometimes slightly breathless, but always erring on the side of lovely understatement."[16]

In early 2008, Real Life won in The 7th Annual Independent Music Awards for Best Pop/Rock Album.[17]

It was awarded a silver certification from the Independent Music Companies Association which indicated sales of at least 30,000 copies throughout Europe.[18]

Track listing

All compositions by Joan Wasser except as indicated.

1. "Real Life" – 4:38
2. "Eternal Flame" – 3:39
3. "Feed the Light" – 3:41
4. "The Ride" – 3:09
5. "I Defy" (Antony Hegarty, Wasser) – 3:32
6. "Flushed Chest" – 3:55
7. "Christobel" – 3:06
8. "Save Me" – 3:44
9. "Anyone" – 4:50
10. "We Don’t Own It" – 3:55

The 2-CD edition had the additional tracks:

1. "Show Me the Life" – 2:32
2. "Broken Eyes" – 2:48
3. "Sweet Thing" (David Bowie) – 3:13
4. "Happiness Is a Violator (For Condoleezza Rice)" – 1:53
5. "Endless Supply of Poison" – 0:52
6. "We Don't Own It" – 4:04

Musicians

Joan As Police Woman:

• Joan Wasser – vocals, piano, guitar, violin, viola, bass guitar, strings, wurlitzer, keyboards
• Rainy Orteca – bass guitar, vocals
• Ben Perowsky – drums, percussion, vocals, tambourine

with:

• Jeff Hill – cello, bass guitar
• Joseph Arthur – vocals, keyboards, piano, drums
• Antony Hegarty – vocals
• Doug Wieselman – bass clarinet, tenor saxophone, clarinet
• Steven Bernstein – trumpet
• Briggan Krauss – baritone saxophone
• Bryce Goggin – piano, keyboards
• Charles Burnham – vocals

References

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