It’s been a while since I checked in with the Slow Pulp camp since their last release; we couldn’t get enough of them here at OKR ‘Yard’ and their show in the summer of 2025 at Cactus Club. Here comes their new release, Melodie, that just came out earlier this month…. Slow Pulp just keeps getting better and better with each album, with both production quality and they just seem so much stronger lyrically, and the music just kicks ass. Now that I am cleaning the air bnb/green room at Cactus Club every now and again, it gives me time to listen to an album for review, such as this one, while I’m making beds or vaccuming the carpet and in between the cracks of the couches or waiting on the laundry for clean sheets. So, here I am…. full of cold brew… and I gave ‘Melodie’ a listen. Emily Massey steals the show here… she’s giving it her all… I mean, her vocals are just fucking amazing… all while Alex, Henry, and Teddy lay down those kick-ass grooves that drive it all home.
Honestly, every song on this release is great and will have ya singing along and nodding your head, but as always, I try to pick out three songs that I couldn’t get enough of after my first listen. Well… this was a hard one for me… so I picked four instead… You don’t like it?…. then you can just go fuck yourself. First off, “Better Man” is the big single off the release for good reason… the guitars are crunchy, the bass/drums are pounding, and, with those swirling keys, they deliver Emily’s vocals to your ears on a silver platter… so fucking good. Next up, the title track “Melodie” is a great bounce-around-the-room jolt to ya midway through the album with some playful keys to go along with the power-packed rhythm section. Then there’s “Red Car,” which I feel is another solid single off this release… Mazda 96′ with the top down, though… is that a Miata… think my buddy had one of those I think back in the day if that’s the case… this is the one that had me dancing around while vacuuming and got texts from people in the bar asking if I fell off the top bunk again when I was changing sheets… NO! I was just dancing horribly to this song. It’s what I do. Lastly, “Spill,” which slows things down, gives ya all the feels, and makes you contemplate your life choices… like I did when I realized someone shaved their big ass beard in the bathroom sink, which went everywhere on the floor too… not sure how you didn’t give a fuck about trying to clean that shit up… you stupid indie-rockin’ bearded fuck. Other than that though…
‘Melodie‘ is a solid album written and performed by a tight-knit group of friends, with songs that get stuck in your head and lyrics that are delicately powerful enough to get you through your roughest days. Slow Pulp is at the top of their game right here with this release. I can’t wait to catch them live here in Milwaukee again sometime. So fucking good. Give this album a spin if you’re into that indie-rock kinda thing ala Bully, Alvvays, or even Lala Lala.
Links of interest:
https://www.instagram.com/slowpulpband/
https://slowpulp.bandcamp.com/album/melodie-2
https://www.anti.com/artists/slow-pulp/
