Hop Along – Painted Shut (Saddle Creek)
It’s impossible to write about Hop Along without fawning over Frances Quinlan’s voice. The universe fits inside its range, turbulent lyrical refrains expelled by her sweet-and-sour rasp. But Quinlan isn’t the only star on Painted Shut, a record that boasts the kind of spare instrumental intricacies that impress without pretension. Nothing about it is simple except for her straightforward mouthfuls of vitriol and remorse. Painted Shut is a rage-fueled attempt at resuscitation, startling listeners out of the realm of unfeeling and reminding them that anger is always justified when it’s righteous. –Gabriela
