Emo seems to be in the middle of another moment. 2015 has seen bands like Hop Along and Title Fight drop stellar albums and rightly become critical darlings. They represent a generation of bands who grew up on a steady diet of Alternative Press-approved acts like Brand New and Saves the Day and are now coupling that emotional rawness with more mature musical styles.
With “What Might Soothe You?,” the lead single from their upcoming album White Hot Moon, Michigan shoegazers Pity Sex appear ready to join their ranks. Though it’s not too unlike any of their previous work, the sound itself is much crisper, trading the reverb-heavy wash of 2013’s Feast of Love for a more polished sound. But that doesn’t take away from the music at all. Really, all it means is that the drums are a little louder, and Brennan Greaves and Britty Drake’s call and response vocals are much easier to make out.
Though Pity Sex has always been a notable talent, “What Might Soothe You?” reshuffles them into a more elite rank of their contemporaries, capable of creating music that could both rock the kids at Warped Tour and captivate the audience at Pitchfork.
White Hot Moon will be released in 2016 on Run For Cover Records.