Hi! Hello! Here we are with some bite sized goodies and a taste of a some new things that we dug that came out in the last week(ish), quick fire responses to some great new music we think you should check out. This week Kate and Mike weighed in on some killer songs— give ’em a listen!
Beat Awfuls– Interstate Skeleton. The first single from the upcoming album, PAWS, this one is jangly fuzzy pop that takes a look into singer/songwriter Dave Vicini’s processing his trauma. The lyrics are raw and hit you where it hurts: I never knew what it costed But only knew what it cost us Feeling technicolor fade As I bury it away like skeletons Why do people even promise To be vulnerable and honest When what they really want it is To keep us locked in their closet like skeletons. [KH]
Blondshell– Veronica Mars. The latest in a series of singles released this year by Sabrina Teitelbaum aka Blondshell, this one also comes with the announcement that she has signed to Partisan Records. It’s a slice of grunge that seems to be on the surface an ode celebrating the show Veronica Mars, but dig a little deeper and perhaps not all is what it seems.
Teitelbaum explains “I was obsessed with the show Veronica Mars as a kid and I was revisiting it around the time I wrote this song. I wanted to sing about that childhood era when I was being exposed to a lot more than I was comfortable with. ‘Gimme shelter’ refers to the song but I’m also saying please give me shelter from graphic TV and film, from New York City, overwhelming lyrics, etc. I think the song is just about having my boundaries crossed and the effects of those transgressions (for example, growing up to think men are hot if they’re assholes).”
No word yet when a full length will arrive but she will be opening for Suki Waterhouse’s North American tour which makes a stop at Webster Hall on 1/28. [KH]
Buggin– Attitude. Do you have 51 seconds? Then strap in for the warp speed new rager from the Chicago hardcore band, back with their first new music in two years. It may be quick but it is packed full of action—complete with a chugging breakdown—before blasting away again for the last five seconds.
Lead singer Bryanna Bennett explains “For ‘Attitude’ I really wanted to tap into our biggest inspiration Bad Brains and make something positive. I was really struggling with my mental health and feeling motivated to even create anything so it just made sense to pour all my bad feelings into a song that I hope others can relate to and feel inspired by.” The song is part of the upcoming The Extermination Vol.4 comp due out 1/27 via Flatspot Records. [KH]
Church Crush– Shark Island. It’s jangle pop with teeth. The latest release from the Brooklyn nice guys is drenched in chorus shifting their clean sound a bit to sound like whole the band is wrapped up in a fuzzy organ. The choppy chunk of the verses allows a few quick moments for drummer Adam E. to break out a bit in the gaps, while the arpeggiated chorus pulls back and opens up with James O. (guitar/vocals) and Paulie V. (bass/vocals) at the helm to soar and glide us through this catchy tune. [MB]
Civic– Born In The Heat. Punk n roll pub rock from Down Under, there’s some pretty bitchin’ lead guitar work in this one, the zippy second single from the upcoming album due out 2/23/23. It’s a perfect driving fast down the highway rocker. [KH]
The HIRS Collective– Sweet Like Candy. Absolute wicked heaviness abounds on the second single from We’re Still Here, the upcoming record from the influential Philly queer grind/hardcore collective due out 3/24 (Get Better Records). The song rages from the start, a rapid fire sonic assault, but the breakdown is totally fucking brutal and the lines I CHOOSE DECAY! will resonate in your goddamn soul. The album is packed with collabs and guest spots from a plethora of artists including Soul Glo, Fucked Up, Garbage, MCR, The Locust and many, many more and this song gets some help from the likes of Maha Shami of NØ MAN, Bryan Funck from Thou and Jessica Joy Mills formerly of Less Than Jake. [KH]
Jad Fair and Samuel Locke Ward– Fate Is On Our Side. A new tune from the Half Japanese founder and long time outsider musician who has teamed up with the prolific DIY musician and zine maker Ward for a bouncy and sunny fun indie rock jam. [KH]
Jigsaw Youth– No Mercy. The Staten Island trio seem to be doubling down on the heavy with their latest, “No Mercy.” Seeming to have all but left their early grungier punkier days behind them, the machine gun drum attack and deep sea of guitars, Jigsaw Youth catapults themselves into the realm of bands like Cassyette and Tetrarch. “No Mercy” is a straightforward full on gut punch while drowning, scrambling toward the surface to fill your lungs with just enough air to scream along. Catch them opening for Sasami on 12/12. Read our thoughts on their previous single “Skin.” [MB]
Ladytron– Faces. Ladytron perfected their formula long ago and though they are releasing music with less frequency these days, they have been busy with other projects individually and have yet to put out something disappointing. Now they are back as a unit for their first new album since 2019’s self titled album with “Faces” being the latest single from their upcoming album, Time’s Arrow (1/20 Cooking Vinyl). This one is yet another a slice of the electro pop excellence they have cultivated throughout their career. [KH]
Megadose– Pig. Listen to this song at your own risk, because it WILL get stuck in your head almost immediately. The third single from the groups upcoming album, Heating Up, this power pop gem has a slinky fuzzed bass line and the kind of deceptively simple but insistent guitars that function as brain invading ear worms (in a very good way). Band leader Stephen Steen explains: “When recording ‘Pig,’ our main goal was to make the whole thing feel like it was constantly one too-tight corner away from going off the rails.I wrote the bass part first, and did my best to channel my inner Tina Weymouth. Laura delivers this perfectly, leaning into an athletic, busy playing style, but with room in the mix to breathe, and still ultimately driving the song as the whole thing crashes forward.”
The lyrics are thought provoking and a direct challenge to the concept of masculinity. Steen elaborates saying the song is “about an actual person in my life, but I kept the lyrics intentionally ambiguous to hopefully make the listener think (it is about cops? a cheating husband??). The general message is meant to be pretty clear: men, even the seemingly upstanding ones, have a sickening capacity to be, well, pigs,” Heating Up arrives on 1/23/23. [KH]
The Moss– Insomnia. Indie surf pop rockers, The Moss, have announced a new EP, Insomnia, which is the follow up to their 2021 album, Kentucky Derby. The song is a jangly, catchy ride through the emotions of a missing someone with frontman Tyke James sharing “Insomnia’ is a bittersweet song about passing the point in a relationship where you can’t sleep at night when you are away from them.” Read more here. [KH]
Nag– Repulsion. Post punk with a harder edge. This one definitely puts more emphasis on the punk aspect of the sound with a dash of darkwave meets the buzz of anarcho punk in the mix of crunchy guitars, reverb and sloshy hi-hats. It’s quick, catchy and the first single from their upcoming album Human Coward Coyote due out 1/6/23 via Convulse Records. [KH]
Pile– Poisons. I love Pile when they are at their heaviest and noisiest and that’s exactly the territory they are in on “Poisons,” the second single from their upcoming album All Fiction (2/17 Exploding In Sound). Rick Maguire explains the song is “about trying to abstain from participating in things that aren’t really good for anybody but also feeling very unaware in general, and the frustration of trying to hold both of those sentiments.” See our recent coverage of Pile at Market Hotel. [KH]
Unwed Sailor– Mais Oui. The long running post rock band from Seattle have released a few albums in the past five years and are set to add another to their catalog soon, Mute the Charm (2/10/23 via Spartan Records). Building on their existing body of work, this one is a perfect example of what this band has always done so well—hit you in your heart strings with sweeping instrumentals. [KH]
We Are Scientists– Lucky To Be Here. Long running NYC indie group We Are Scientists first captured my heart years ago with their catchy songs about being damaged and the excesses of youth/young adulthood. They’re still going strong and are set to release their eighth album, Lobes, in early 2023. They’ve released three singles so far, with the most recent being “Lucky To Be Here” which goes from quiet and contemplative to epic and sweeping and back again in just under five minutes, showcasing all the things this band is great at—big emotions and deep grooves all wrapped into one. [KH]
White Reaper– Fog Machine. Big 80s style riffs abound throughout White Reaper’s latest, with an epic hair metal shred down in the middle. This is the second single from their forthcoming album, Asking for a Ride, which is due to arrive in January. [KH]
In her debut EP ThePuppy Game, Canadian singer-songwriter Blair Lee leans into vulnerability, reflection, and the inevitable passing of time to deliver a wondrously beautiful and expansive record. Named after a game Lee used to play as a kid with her cousins and siblings (according to her official press release), The Puppy Game is both an ode to her past and a practice in choosing how to shape her future. With five songs spanning just over 16 minutes, The Puppy Game is a refreshing and striking listen that proves Lee is fully capable of making some serious waves in the indie music scene.
Opening the record is “Hurdles,” a song about Lee’s grandparents growing older and grappling with missed family moments. The music video features a montage of her grandparents spending time with her and her family as a very young child, a deeply thoughtful homage to those from whom she came. Sonically, “Hurdles” is rooted in an electro-indie soundscape. Softly strummed guitars, smooth synth, and dreamy keyboards create an expansive backdrop to her soaring vocal melodies. “You take your time/roll the window down and wave goodbye/am I your anchor?/You move in a straight line/but you’re circling my mind/’till next time, ‘till next time” sings Lee during the chorus, making clear the impact the aging of her grandparents has had on her psyche.
In addition to successfully creating a unique and cohesive sonic identity with The Puppy Game, Lee also manages to explore a variety of themes throughout the record. Following “Hurdles” is “Peachy World,” a more uptempo track about coming to terms with the possibility of a romance ending. The EP’s third song, “Flower Mind” addresses the kind of person she aspires to be and how she can achieve her dreams in the midst of doubts and setbacks by focusing on the positives in her life. With lyrics such as “Every day/I wake up and I wonder/How I’ll change/With this rain I’m under/Start to doubt it’s all in my head/If I shut up and drive/Could I leave the storm behind/For open skies” reveals her struggle with staying positive and how she wants to “be the girl smiling for no reason.” In addition to“Flower Mind” being the most introspective track on the record, it is also the most grunge-like, making its placement as the EP’s middle song ideal. After “Flower Mind” comes “All Day,” an ethereal track about Lee further recognizing her agency as a person and artist to be able to pull herself out of darkness.
The Puppy Game ends with “Last Bite,” a profoundly beautiful track rooted deep in reflection and an absolute gem of an album closer. The first thirty seconds of the song are particularly chill-inducing and capable of melting even the hardest of hearts. Featuring a tender chord progression paired with Lee’s soft yet searing vocals singing “When the sky burns pink before the night/people stop to take a picture of the light/the water” “Last Bite”brings The Puppy Game to a bracing close, appointing Lee as a force to be reckoned with. In the song’s music video, she is situated alone along a snowy beach in what could be presumed is the middle of winter. The camera captures the essence of the song perfectly with alternating clips of her singing towards the sky, looking contemplative on a tree stump, and running along the beach with her arms outstretched, holding the blanket up behind her as if she were a bird soaring above the ocean.
With an astonishingly gorgeous EP under her belt, Blair Lee has a wide open road on which to drive when it comes to her future. The Puppy Game is best listened when able to view the sky or in a quiet room since Lee’s vocals and the accompanying instrumentation can be heard as acutely as possible. She is worth checking out if you like good music but especially if you’re a fan of MUNA, Soccer Mommy, or Maggie Rogers. We are eager to see what lies ahead for Blair Lee and certainly hope that she comes down to the US from Canada to play some shows in the not-so-distant future!
The Puppy Game was self released and is available now via all major streaming platforms.
The Swedish alternative rock band Omni of Halos released their self-titled debut LP on November 18th on Lövely Records with heavy swirling soundscapes whipped up by four guitars (one of them, unexpectedly, pedal steel), bass, moog, and relentless drums. The impact of their sound often brings the sensation of being caught in the eye of the storm, or tossed about in a maelstrom of guitar noise magic. The songs are moodily reflecting on the pain of human relationships or the shit state of the world, but within this spinning, glimmering wall of sound there is solid strength. Omni of Halos bring vulnerability and warrior ways all at once. And through all the ups and downs, they weave their own unique brand of rock—dense, complex, and fierce.
The opening track, “You Suck,” was one of my favorites. Immediately driving and urgent, the layers of guitars pulse with energy, as the pedal steel slinks around the edges, with Markuu Mulari exploding on the drums with some mind-blowing fills. “Yeah, you want to control me / Good luck with that / It’s gonna end bad,” Henrik Hjelt Röstberg sings, and indeed, with power like this coming at you, why would anyone try to control Omni of Halos? You can see the band working their magic (with so many amps) in the video for “You Suck”
Other standout tracks for me included “Care Free,” with its grungy grooves, masterfully driven by Kyle Pitcher on bass. “What made you think / That you could run away / From all that shit you created / And never looking back / Keep on running free / Care free from this world we’re living in.” As the lyrics reflect, there is no being care free in this messed up world anymore (if there ever was). The tension and disappointment build to a frenzy from the guitars, with the pedal steel from Daniel Levin cutting beautifully through the chaos. “Care Free” also has an exciting video that collages together footage of the band live, recording, and some very cool animation by Bianka Berggren.
“Crumbling to Pieces,” the first single from the album, takes the disillusionment with our post-modern mess to a fever pitch, featuring strong vocal harmonies from Röstberg and Gabriel Unsgaard as the band roils and rumbles underneath. “This world crumblinginto pieces / in front of our eyes / this place gonna burn.” The sonic frenzy escalates until you can almost feel the earth shaking under your feet, guitars so heavy the streets are beginning to crack open. Having additional guitars and moog energy from Johan Winther just makes the sound all the bigger, and this song truly becomes the apocalyptic earthquake it should be.
The final track, “Out of Control,” closes out this intense album perfectly with a message of the persistent need to keep moving, keep hustling, keep working, keep making, in an extremely broken world that will never allow you to stop. “Don’t stop this motion, keep it moving,” Röstberg sings. “You can’t stop now, make sure to let go. Out of control, out of control.” The unhinged and potentially dangerous energy of humanity on the edge comes through beautifully in this last track from Omni of Halos, and throughout the album.
Omni of Halos (photo by David Hultesjö)
Featuring the four tracks from the band’s Care Free EP (released earlier this year) and six brand-new songs, Omni of Halos offers dramatic rock music at its best. “We just wanted to play massive indie rock with no limitations or influences,” says Röthberg, and that is what they’ve achieved. With production from Per Stålberg (of Division of Laura Lee and Pablo Matisse) and mixing from John Agnello (who previously collaborated with Dinosaur Jr., Sonic Youth, and Kurt Vile), Omni of Halos is “beauty and darkness combined,” providing “shelter to the misunderstood.” One big old laser storm of loud goodness from Gothenberg, Sweden!
Omni of Halos is out now via Lövely Records and available on Bandcamp and all major streamers.
Gather round C86 lovers! The indie twee pop super group, Swansea Sound (which features members of Heavenly, Marine Research, Talulah Gosh, The Pooh Sticks, Catenary Wires and more), have just released a brand new song, “Music Lover,” and it is perfectly in line with the members’ extended body of work sonically as well as their cheeky humor and political wit. The song is a peppy, jangly takedown of Spotify’s creepy CEO, Daniel Ek, a man known and loathed the world over for being so out of touch with what it actually means to be a working musician; the depths of his tech bro douchery truly know no bounds and Swansea Sound isn’t going to let him off the hook like so many others have.
Following earlier work like “I Sold My Soul On eBay,” this song is another pointed jab at the world we currently inhabit which yeah, can feel pretty damn soul-less at times, given over to the technocrats that track our every move and make it feel near impossible to escape. The lyrics are a glorious tribute to Ek (aka a hate song) told from “his” perspective and leave absolutely nothing to the imagination:
I’m a music lover / I’m a music lover / Sony to the right of me Warners to the left of me / We’re like brothers
Yeah we’re music lovers
Every single note they sing subsidizes podcasting
Free speech lover / I’m a free speech lover
Fascists are ok with me if they pay subscription fees
I just love it all
I just love it all
A hilarious animated video accompanies the track, featuring a billionaire boy band “playing” the song with Ek on guitar, Bezos on drums, and Zuck presumably providing backing vocals as he stands off to the side. Later on to really round out the elite jerk appeal, Elon Musk makes a dancing cameo before the avaricious foursome takeoff in Bezos’ space ship. Or is it Musk’s? I can’t keep track of all the space penis vanity projects these days. I mean, who can?
The song has been packaged as Music Lover EP which includes two holiday songs, the previously released “Happy Christmas To Me” and “Merry Christmas Darlings,” which the band notes is “a Cheap Trick cover version in a kind of glam rock style.” The cover is only available on the CD though, but that comes with a Christmas card you can have signed by the band or unsigned to add your own message so it’s worth picking up. Both versions are available via Bandcamp.
Hi! Hello! Here we are with some bite sized goodies and a taste of a some new things that we dug that came out in the last week(ish), quick fire responses to some great new music we think you should check out. This week Chantal, Kate and Mike weighed in on some killer songs— give ’em a listen!
And though we can’t possibly cover all the music that is released each week (we wish!), we do get to as many songs as we can. As always, if you’re in a band or from a label, don’t hesitate to reach out and let us know about you! If we dig ya, you’ll get a nod in the column. Read on to find out what we dug the last week or so and check back every Friday for more:
Atsuko Chiba– Link. The latest track from this Montreal band is pounding, psychy (and a bit mathy in some of the guitar work) and bass driven. The accompanying video is trippy and fascinating, but best avoided if you have an insect phobia. Their new album Water, It Feels Like It’s Growing is out on Jan 20 via Mothland. [CW]
Bad Bad Hats– Super America. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of their debut EP, It Hurts, the indie greats are re-issuing the EP in full (and remastered) along with demo versions of all five songs. It will also be the first time these songs are available on vinyl. Check out the brand new animated video for “Super America” for a fix of some sweet indie pop gold. [KH]
Bass Drum of Death– Head Change. The third single from Say I Won’t, the upcoming album from the long running garage trio and this one is a mid tempo rocker, dialed back from some of their early fervent work but keeping in line with the refinement in production and style we’ve heard from the first two singles “Say Your Prayers,” and “Find It.” I’ve loved getting to know a newer side of the band and the growth as much as I love their early work, so I’m very ready to find out what the rest of the record has in store. The full album drops 1/27/23 via Fat Possum. [KH]
Brian Jonestown Massacre– Fudge. The psych greats have just announced their 20h album The Future Is Your Past (2/10/23 A Recordings), and so far have released two singles, the title track and the latest, “Fudge,” which sees the band in familiar swirly psych territory, layers of guitars weaving together. [KH]
Jess Kallen– A Garden Bed of Thistle Weeds. This country-tinged indie rock song uses layers of guitars to carry Kallen’s voice along with ease, and then opens up into a louder mode—just briefly, before hitting a lovely subdued end. Their debut album isn’t planned until 2023 (via New Professor), but this is a great preview. [CW]
Jigsaw Youth– Skin. With walls of fuzz and a full distortion onslaught, the Staten Island trio pulls the heaviest of right hooks on that pay-off southpaw chorus. Ducking between belly growls and guttural screams, at one point Nastacha Beck’s guitar goes full on crunch-metal while Maria Alvarez (bass/vocals) and Alex Dmytrow (drums) bring down the thunder on rhythm. I’ve been a huge fan of this band since first catching them play a Brooklyn basement back in 2017—this is the hugest they’ve ever sounded, and I’m here for it. Catch them opening for Sasami on 12/12 at Baby’s All Right. [MB]
Los Bitchos– Los Chrismos. This cheeky UK based foursome recently released a holiday themed single and now have added a ridiculous 80s themed music video to enhance the holiday cheer. Read more about it here. [KH]
Mui Zyu– Rotten Bun. Hong Kong British artist Eva Liu aka mui zyu has announced her debut album Rotten Bun for an Eggless Century (2/24 Father/Daughter) and released the beautiful piano driven title track. Via her Bandcamp:
“As mui zyu, Hong Kong British artist Eva Liu navigates the tricky territory of ever-changing identity, merging fantasy and folklore to create a stage for self-acceptance and deliverance. On her debut full-length Rotten Bun for an Eggless Century, Liu utilizes chopped-up soundscapes, delicate industrial ambience and sweet pop melodies to introduce a character––a guide––who can be stretched across worlds to offer the catharsis of patience, perseverance and understanding. This isn’t a character formed from a desire to escape or flee the real world, but rather a way to submerge even deeper into ourselves. Rotten Bun for an Eggless Century is a reflection of everyone, and everything, that made us who we are.” [KH]
The Natural Lines– Monotony. The latest from Matt Pond (fka Matt Pond PA) this sees him evolving and building upon his existing body of work. Read more here. [KH]
Nicole Dollanganger– Runnin’ Free. This single is in fact a reworking of a demo from the Heart Shaped Bed era. The newest version features more layers of Dollanganger’s ethereal voice while piano takes the lead from the guitars. At once more delicate and with a harder pulse, it’s an interesting reworking. Her still untitled album will be out January 6th. [CW]
Omer Leibovitz– Wide Open Feeling. Another beautifully executed track by the Brooklyn songwriter. It’s that masterful understanding of melody and sound that we’ve come to expect from Leibovitz, only this time leveled up in intensity with a blend of distorted guitars overdriven just to the point where you can hear its broken bits. And lyrically, he once again again make no qualms about exposing his broken bits. [MB]
Sad 13– Wrapped. Sadie DuPuis’ annual holiday song is here and this one takes a critical poke at year end lists with a sharply worded look at the culture that has arisen around this now deeply ingrained aspect of the music industry. There are no words minced with the line “If it’s not the list, why’d you bother with listening?” the sarcasm dripping off of each word. And I’m inclined to agree with the sentiment because so much that never makes a major list still matters, very deeply, but gets lost in the shuffle of the popularity contest. It all begs the question, why not just listen to what you love and forget the lists?!
(That being said, FTA does participate in the tradition because it can be fun and I like to check out stuff from smaller outlets because you can find some real gems that way, but we don’t rank our list nor do we present one as an entity or “Best of.” Rather we list ours as a “favorites” with each individual contributor sending their own as a snapshot of what they loved over the year. My personal one will be alphabetical this year to avoid a hierarchy like structure. What can I say? It’s the punk rock in me.) [KH]
Slow Fiction– Top 10 Movie Scenes. Take 1, take 2. The arty Brooklyn indie rockers drop the first single marked for their upcoming 2023 self-titled EP. This track is pure sweet melancholy to the point you can feel the emotion dripping from every instrument. The bass weeps over the somber heartbeat, giving way for the guitars and vocals to ebb and then soar. Just allow yourself to be swept up, because they’ve got a hold on you anyway. [MB]
Tropical Fuck Storm– The Golden Ratio. The art punks from Down Under have just announced a new 12″ and amazingly started beef with Zayn Malik in the process (maybe). Grab your popcorn and read more here. [KH]
Weird Nightmare– Our Love Will Still Be There (Troggs cover). Alex Edkins’ (Metz) side project, Weird Nightmare, has released a fuzzy power pop version of the 1966 song by The Troggs. The original appears on The Troggs debut album, From Nowhere, the same album that brought us the cool classic “Wild Thing.” Listen to both versions below. [KH]
Zulu– Fakin’ Tha Funk (You Get Did). The epic LA based powerviolence band has announced their first full length, A New Tomorrow, and released the first single which follows their two previous EPs. At just over a minute long, the song is a heavy crusher and will vibrate your skull through your headphones (in all the best ways). The album arrives 3/3/23 via Flatspot and will feature guest spots from Pierce Jordan (Soul Glo), Paris Roberts (Truth Cult), and Obioma Ugonna (Playtime). They will head out on tour in support of the record with Show Me The Body, the tour hits Brooklyn Steel on 3/24/23. [KH]
For their fifth album Premonition, Vancouver band White Lung build on the tight songwriting and high-quality production that has been a hallmark of the band since at least 2016’s Paradise (an album I reviewed for Tom Tom Mag, noting “Listen to this while trying to put your eyeliner on straight on the train en route to a punk show.”) 2022 finds the band as an even more perfect version of themselves. Their punk-hardcore-rock sound is as punchy as ever, with loud guitars, thrashing drums and Mish Barber-Way’s melodic yell tempting listeners to put the pedal down and head straight to the mosh pit.
Premonition has been in the works since 2017, although in the meantime Barber-Way has had two children and the band (along with the rest of us) dealt with several years of upheavals. White Lung have obviously used this time to hone themselves into an even sharper unit, and the band hasn’t settled down— this album is just as fast-paced and fist-pumping as anything they’ve done. Drummer Anne-Marie Vassiliou is on absolute fire on this record (she’s always had a great snare sound in particular). Kenneth William provides the guitars, bass, and synth; although the basslines are great, a driving mass pushing the songs along, it’s the guitars that grab my attention, from the first hyperactive chords of “Hysteric” all the way to the vicious churn and high-note flourishes of “Winter.”
Barber-Way is indeed a parent now, and doesn’t shy away from her motherhood but doesn’t make a saccharine ploy of it. Lyrics on songs like “Bird” don’t try to make everything perfect. “Count all your little limbs and then I’ll binge / While my brain breaks down / Stolen in part by you, what can I do? / As I wait for sound.” The single “If You’re Gone” is about children dealing with the loss of a parent who took their own life. Thoughts of aging and love are here as well, in “Mountain:” Will you say you adore me when I’m beat and almost forty? / When I’ve given all my body up for you? / Will you still cut the trees down? / Will you come to my hometown with our litter wrapped up in your arms? Another highlight on the album is “Date Night,” a tale of burning your bridges after a date night with God himself (imagined as a smoker in a Cadillac.)
If you’ve read this far and are excited to hear the album, I must bear the sad news that Premonition is White Lung’s swansong: “the last album we’ll be getting from one of the best bands to ever do it.” Pick up the album out now on Domino Records and toast White Lung as they ride into the sunset.
