Speedy Ortiz's debut arrived last year amidst a clutch of records trying to recapture the '90s slacker indie spirit. It was a prescient, though imperfect, record that nonetheless announced the band as one to watch. This quick follow-up EP proves the speculators right by improving on their debut at almost every level. The playing is tighter, the fidelity higher, yet the band's tendency to let it all hang out in their impressive instrumental interplay obscures many of the EP's best moments.
Opener "American Horror" offers the closest thing to a sing-along chorus, something the record's other three tracks severely lack. It's a shame, because Sadie Dupuis's great voice and sharp one-liners are too often lost in the mix. Still, it's amazing to see the progress the band have made in such little time.
(Carpark Records)Opener "American Horror" offers the closest thing to a sing-along chorus, something the record's other three tracks severely lack. It's a shame, because Sadie Dupuis's great voice and sharp one-liners are too often lost in the mix. Still, it's amazing to see the progress the band have made in such little time.