“I’m not bossy, I’m the boss,” Sadie Dupuis of Speedy Ortiz chants on the single off their sophomore album, Foil Deer and as far as I’m concerned, she’s been the boss since 2013’s release, Major Arcana. Full of the same witty lyrics, angular and thrash guitaring, Foil Deer delivers Speedy Ortiz’s same smoldering indie-grunge sound.
Hailing from Massachusetts, the four piece band thrive off a playful yet destructive sound. Much like Major Arcana, Foil Deer is aggressive and enjoyable. Lead singles, “Raising the Skate,” “The Graduates,” and “Puffer” stand out as tracks that grab attention right away. Whether it is Dupuis’ academically sly lyrics or twist and turns in sounds, Foil Deer keeps a listener on their toes and reels them in as the tracks are tremendously guitar-driven. As lead vocals and guitar, Dupuis lyrics and delivery are dark and bold. She manages to find a balance between being brash and playful, while vulnerability shows on tracks like “Homonovus,” but Dupuis’ audacity is never far away.
Foil Deer is a noisy, jagged earful. Most tracks are quick little snippets of fast paced distortion both satisfying and empowering. Complete with exceptional musical quality, Foil Deer is gritty, and Sadie Dupuis has no problem owning her frontwoman position amongst lo-fi sounds and unusual, yet catchy guitar lines. Foil Deer is not lacking at all, and just like with Major Arcana, it seems as though Speedy Ortiz have landed on their feet once again.
Rating: 9.0/10
