Speedy Ortiz - Raising The Skate
- Raising The Skate -
Opening with a delicate passage of layered tremolo picked guitars, “Raising the Skate” swings into motion with its gleefully disjointed lead melody, punctuated by slithering bass and a cyclical staccato drum figure. The instrumentation then subdues to a withdrawn stupor, making way for the almost free associative rebelliousness of singer Sadie Dupuis’ poetic lyricism.
"Heaven, have mercy on the hypnic jerk"
She sings with an air of resignation at first, before her double-tracked “careful steady”s lead us right into the full quirk rock revolt of the chorus.
“I’m not bossy, I’m the boss, shooter, not the shot…”
Her resigned tone turns of the more recent indie bands to transform 90s alternative rock influences, Speedy Ortiz are arguably the most potent. Taking life as the brainchild of singer-songwriter and poet Sadie Dupuis, Speedy Ortiz evolved to become a powerful quartet, reveling in a new breed of alt rock music. Delivering waves of noisy guitar theatrics and sophisticated pop melody in equal measure, their sound is rendered all the more singular by Sadie’s vocals. She often sings with a direct, honest, and conversational tone that stands in fascinating contrast to the freewheeling and fragmented noise pop that lies beneath. This often results in Pavement comparisons amongst critics, and while Speedy Ortiz acknowledge the band as a major influence, they also represent something new altogether.
- Foil Deer -
Their latest full-length Foil Deer is something of an instant college classic, a string of intelligent art pop songs adorned with subversive sonic grit. It’s a record that takes a few listens to unravel and fully appreciate, as each song is a dense (though instantly catchy) patchwork of complex melodies and lyrical ideas. As such, Foil Deer brims with highlights. But if there is one track I use to introduce new listeners to the band’s warped 90s splendor, it’s gotta be ’“Raising the Skate”.
Speedy Ortiz - Foil Deer (2015)
If you dig this tune check out:
Nirvana, Sonic Youth, Pavement, Amanda Palmer, Modest Mouse, Silversun Pickups, St. Vincent, and Sad13
(all links go to youtube videos that stand as the best representation of the artist so you don't have to go hunting for music that doesn't suck)
