I’d like to issue a formal apology to all of the artists who are waiting for me to review their work, but I’m packing it in. Between Survival Pop and Worriers’ first album, Imaginary Life (which I thought I’d written up but apparently not?) I will never need any other music ever again. I don’t typically post album recommendations on my personal Facebook feed (if my friends care about what I have to say about music, they can read this) but the album resonated with me so much that I did and a bunch of my friends fell in love, too. If you’re queer or struggling with mental health concerns (so…if you’re a human), this album will nourish you.
I’ve gone through something of a personal breakthrough recently, and the major themes of Survival Pop — alienation, feeling out of sorts while everyone else seems to be doing just fine, committing to my own path, and reflecting on adolescence — happen to resonate with me a lot right now. Lauren Denitzio’s voice reverberates with strength and determination — not just for themself but for the rest of us to lean on. But the lyrics and their performance also reveal wounds and vulnerability, illustrating how it is possible to be both. A lot of artists are addressing these troubling times directly with anger or celebration of resilience. Worriers are just saying “fuck you — this shit was hard pre-Trump so we’re just going to keep doing what we do.”
The band probably won’t read this, but if they do, thank you. I mean it.
Worriers — Official, Facebook, Bandcamp
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