THE FRONT BOTTOMS - THERESA
On September 2nd, indie rock group The Front Bottoms dropped the EP Theresa, the latest instalment in what has now been dubbed their “grandma trilogy” after Rose of 2014 and 2018’s Ann. The latest tracks from these cult favorites take on a different vibe from 2020’s In Sickness and In Flames—a raw, urgent record that captured the confusion, weariness, and panic that year induced with all the gritty emotion and biting wit for which they’re known.
With Theresa, the Front Bottoms revisit unreleased fan favorites and breathe new life into some of their earliest records. This nostalgic endeavor sensitively approaches the complexity of youthful emotions and yearning to belong along with the weariness that comes from reaching adulthood and still not having the answers.
Opening with “More Than It Hurts You,” the group sticks with their signature acoustic guitar, a drier approach than many of the full chorus bangers on In Sickness and In Flames. Here lead singer Brian Sella invites us into his insecurities with a specificity that somehow feels more universal—the chorus involves him cutting off his fingertips so he won’t be identifiable when he washes up on the Jersey shore. He resigns himself to the fact that he’ll never be satisfied, using his poems and songs to find peace in his quest for identity and belonging.
“The Bongo Song” stands out right away for its unique instrumentation as the title implies. While it’s simpler and more straightforward than most of what we hear from them, it strikes that perfect balance where Sella’s singing about death and a toxic love where you’d die for someone, yet you still want to dance and jump around when you hear it.
“Hello World” strikes a more poignant chord with a slower, gentler approach and lyrics that wrestle more directly with the uncertainty and doubt that come with growing up and growing apart.
For diehard fans, this EP offers even more to love. For newer listeners, it could be a gateway to some of their more hard-hitting tracks as The Front Bottoms continue to serve iconic, striking imagery in their lyrics combined with catchy, upbeat melodies.
Emmy Spaar
★★★★★