Bodega Share Knife on the Platter

It’s good to see a band you enjoyed take a step to the side and start to flex their musical muscle. I love Bodega‘s brand of thoughtful art-punk, and while the lyrical content doesn’t seem to stray too far, the music we’re hearing from the band’s forthcoming LP definitely has the group reaching into new territory. Here we get to hear the band sit back and entrance listeners with Ben’s emphatic lyrical delivery while the rhythm section dims the room (as seen in the video, right?). The guitar work is still slightly angular, but it almost seems like a shiny accessory in the presence of this tune. The band will releasing their new Shiny New Model EP next Friday via What’s Your Rupture.

Bodega Return with Shiny New Model

When Bodega dropped their debut LP last year, it seemed, to me at least, like a refreshed version of early Parquet Courts; Ben Hozie had a similar delivery to the aforementioned, with the band walking the line between art/postpunk. Now here we are with the announcement of a fresh new EP, and at times, a fresh new sound. Ben still has that matter-of-fact lyrical delivery, though he seems to have softened the notes on the ends, stretching them into song. Guitars still have this sharp fuzziness, but there’s textured layers built in, supporting the band with this underlying pop sensibility. The brief instrumental starting right before the 1:30 mark might be some of the best bits the band have crafted to date; it’s clear they’ve really grown their sound, and I can’t turn this song off. It’ll appear on a new 8 song Shiny New Model EP, out on October 11th via some label called What’s Your Rupture.