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Athens-based Tunabunny just keeps getting better and better; their third album, Genius Fatigue, is a hot-headed blast of post-punk with a pop edge. It kicks off with “Duchess of Nothing,” and this quartet simply will not let go of your emotions. Unlike their previous album—the fine Minima Moralia, which earned well-deserved kudos, the songs on Genius Fatigue are taut; the guitars, louder, harder; the singing, much more focused and barb-wired; the drumming, powerful, in-your-face. It’s obvious that Tunabunny had Wuxtry as their daycare and Party Out Of Bounds as its Bible, as they capture and blend the past and the present into a wonderful amalgam that is all their own.
Did I mention the songs? Oh, yes, there’s that. They tease the ears; the dueling vocals are split between Brigette Herron and Mary Jane Hassell, channel everything right about their scene and Riot Grrrl; their voices clear and strong and assertive as they scream “Fear is not my favorite emotion!” in “Government of Throats.” In “Slackjawed,” they are as sensitive as required, while on “Form a Line,” they’re just downright coy. Then there’s the biggest tease of all, “Wrong Kind of Attention.” Over a slow-burning melody, you wait…and wait…and wait…for it to burst out into a primal scream that will blow your mind, as they coyly lead the listener into their web. Then, as it builds and builds, you can’t wait, you can’t wait…and then, boom! The song ends. The band doesn’t explode into the cacophony you expect; the singer doesn’t break out into the rage you expect.
That? That’s called control, friends. That’s what Tunabunny does. They control your emotions with their powerful, sweet, and seductive songs, and leaves you emotionally spent, wanting to hit repeat, yet leaving you unsure if you’re ready to do so just yet. It’s okay; wait a minute or two, regain your composure, and come back. Genius Fatigue isn’t going anywhere.
