Instantly catchy but without being particularly commercial-sounding, Curtain by Detroit, Michigan-based indie songstress Sock Jock (aka Taylor Marie Brown) is an indie/emo pop tour de force.
Ostensibly a solo venture from what we can gather (there are clips on Instagram of Taylor recording the bass, guitar, vocals, and producing the song), she is joined live by a backing band who do justice to her perfectly crafted, nostalgic-feeling, sing-along plucky pop rock.
The new single is imbued with the energy of Drums, the spirit of Best Coast, the style of late-Sonic Youth, and the musicality of The Beths. It’s also worth noting that it’s as danceable as it is anthemic. We can certainly imagine seas of teenagers singing the words back to Taylor on some stage somewhere in the world (or screaming the lyrics at the top of their lungs whilst bouncing around in their bedroom, whilst their parents are downstairs wondering where they went wrong).
There’s also an unequivocal angsty Paramore influence at play here, but it’s blended with a DIY indie sound that nicely rounds off the edges and makes for something a bit more universally palatable. You can also detect a whiff of the sound of one of the bands of the moment – the ubiquitous Wednesday – in the songwriting and the twangy undertones.
It’s a really strong single that commands our attention and has ensured that we stay locked in for what’s to come next.
Written by Kinda Grizzly
