Worriers // Survival Pop
Thankfully, as the title implies, this kind of pop is surviving.
Worriers
Survival Pop
Side One Dummy
4/5 stars
A pitch-perfect follow up to 2015's Imaginary Life, Worriers return for their third full-length album. The Brooklyn-based band is the work of singer/guitarist Lauren Denitzio, who previously helmed the band The Measure [SA]. For well over a decade, Denitzio has been honing her formidable skills as a pop punk songwriter, able to construct perfectly compacted works with seeming ease. The lyrics are far from facile, however, filled with self-examination, doubt, and anxiety. As a queer, non-binary feminist, Denitzio gives listeners a highly personal perspective in general terms that's easy for anyone identify with. The clench-jawed vocal delivery proves to be an understated, and amazingly effective, translation of the band's anthemic melodies. It's punk rock perfectly suited for a generation of fans who grew up singing along to bands like The Lawrence Arms and The Loved Ones. It's a full, powerful sound, both streamlined and bombastic. The shades of depression fit perfectly in a world where punk remains in short supply, yet absolutely necessary. Thankfully, as the title implies, this kind of pop is surviving. — Nick Warren
