Once again, Athens, GA’s HHBTM hits a home run, this time with an English band sure to be dominating the Indie charts in months to come.
Joanna Gruesome are a cacophony of pop. On the incredibly long-worded title track, the drums crash relentlessly, a tumultuous sea awash in guitar feedback caught on a hook that won’t let go. Male and female vocals harmonize just under the noise, keeping the lyrics mysterious, yet clear enough to evoke emotion. It’s The Jesus and Mary Chain‘s reverb propelled with the gusto of early Spiritualized, space-rock for an interstellar garage.
“Lemonade Grrrl,” the B-side, keeps the drums to a hardcore beat and holds back on the noise, focusing on the driving melody and the chorus, which somehow recalls The Cranberries. It’s only three-quarters of the way through that the pounding rhythm section rears its epic head, bringing the song to a glorious finale.
Perhaps the most exciting thing about Joanna Gruesome is how they conjure the early recordings by The Walkman, only on happy pills. Turn it up and hum along with the noise. It feels good!
