Meandering guitar lines and off-kilter vocal melodies have been a distinguishing feature of Speedy Ortiz’s music from the very beginning. Since the release of the Philadelphia-based band’s understated yet self-assured debut album ‘Major Arcana’ a decade ago, songwriter, producer, vocalist and guitarist Sadie Dupuis has displayed a unique ear for captivating tracks that can be enjoyed without always being fully understood.
On their latest LP ‘Rabbit Rabbit’, little has changed on that front. Her lyrics are both narrative and poetic, tackling topics ranging from abusive relationships (Plus One), to self-validation (The Sunday), and “self-designated ethicists who don’t quibble about crossing a picket line for individual benefit” (Scabs). Her words might be indecipherable to those not on her wavelength, but it is also possible that they will be too caught up in the serpentine alt-rock journey offered by her guitar to care.
Allowing noodling six strings to take the lead, Dupuis delivers her cryptic lyrics in a way that is somehow both blasé and intentional. But things really get magical on tracks such as closer Ghostwriter, Cry Cry Cry and Ranch vs. Ranch, when her inflections ramp up, her syntax is flowing with, instead of ambling alongside the music and she hits the Venn diagram sweet spot.
There are moments on cuts such as Kitty and Ballad Of Y & S, though, where Dupuis’ habit of fitting words into existing musical frameworks creates the feeling that she is lagging behind. Fortunately, they’re short-lived and more than compensated for by expertly crafted breakdowns that feel improvised despite, as Dupuis confirmed in a recent Fader interview, being methodically planned to avoid repetition of patterns, tempos and key changes.
Dupuis co-produced ‘Rabbit Rabbit’ with Sarah Tudzin of Illuminati Hotties and the rest of Speedy Ortiz — completed by guitarist Andy Molholt, bassist Audrey Zee Whitesides and drummer Joey Doubek — and throughout the album they show a conscious disregard for the standard verse-chorus-verse template.
They instinctively know when a track will benefit from a hook-heavy delivery or when it’s time to take a less formulaic approach. The result is a fascinating record that grows more potent with repeated spins, and though it may leave you with more questions than answers lyrically, the confusion is a price worth paying for such dynamic compositions.
Speedy Ortiz Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Wed September 13 2023 - MONTREAL Quebec - Case Del Popolo (Canada)
Thu September 14 2023 - TORONTO Ontario - Rivoli (Canada)
Fri September 15 2023 - LAKEWOOD Ohio - Mahalls (USA)
Sat September 16 2023 - PITTSBURGH Pennsylvania - Mr Roboto Project (USA)
Mon September 18 2023 - COLUMBUS Ohio - Ace Of Cups (USA)
Tue September 19 2023 - GRAND RAPIDS Michigan - Pyramid Scheme (USA)
Thu September 21 2023 - CUDAHY Wisconsin - X-Ray Arcade (USA)
Fri September 22 2023 - BLOOMINGTON Indiana - Bishop (USA)
Sat September 23 2023 - LOUISVILLE Kentucky - Whirling Tiger (USA)
Mon September 25 2023 - NASHVILLE Tennessee - DRKMTTR (USA)
Tue September 26 2023 - CHARLOTTE North Carolina - Snug Harbor (USA)
Wed September 27 2023 - WEST COLUMBIA South Carolina - New Brookland Tavern (USA)
Fri September 29 2023 - SAVANNAH Georgia - Lodge Of Sorrows (USA)
Sat September 30 2023 - BIRMINGHAM AL Alabama - TrimTab Brewing Company (USA)
Sun October 01 2023 - MEMPHIS Tennessee - Growlers (USA)
Tue October 03 2023 - ST LOUIS Missouri - Sinkhole (USA)
Wed October 04 2023 - CINCINNATI Ohio - Motr Pub (USA)
Fri October 06 2023 - MORGANTOWN West Virginia - Pleasant Street (USA)
Wed October 18 2023 - WASHINGTON District Of Columbia - Black Cat (USA)
Thu October 19 2023 - RICHMOND Virginia - Camel (USA)
Fri October 20 2023 - DURHAM North Carolina - Pinhook (USA)
Sat October 21 2023 - ATLANTA Georgia - Purgatory Stage at Masquerade Music Park - Complex (USA)
Mon October 23 2023 - MIAMI Florida - Gramps (USA)
Tue October 24 2023 - WINTER PARK Florida - Conduit (USA)
Wed October 25 2023 - NEW ORLEANS Louisiana - Gasa Gasa (USA)
Fri October 27 2023 - HOUSTON Texas - Black Magic Social Club (USA)
Sat October 28 2023 - AUSTIN Texas - Parish (USA)
Sun October 29 2023 - DENTON Texas - Andys Bar (USA)
Mon October 30 2023 - SAN ANTONIO Texas - Paper Tiger (USA)
Wed November 01 2023 - PHOENIX Arizona - Last Exit (USA)
Thu November 02 2023 - LOS ANGELES California - Echo (USA)
Mon November 06 2023 - SAN FRANCISCO California - Rickshaw Stop (USA)
Wed November 08 2023 - PORTLAND Oregon - Polaris Hall (USA)
Thu November 09 2023 - SEATTLE Washington - Barboza (USA)
Fri November 10 2023 - BELLINGHAM Washington - Shakedown (USA)
Sat November 11 2023 - VANCOUVER British Columbia - Cobalt (Canada)
Mon November 13 2023 - BOISE Idaho - Neurolux Lounge (USA)
Tue November 14 2023 - SALT LAKE CITY Utah - Urban Lounge (USA)
Thu November 16 2023 - DENVER Colorado - Globe Hall (USA)
Fri November 17 2023 - OMAHA Nebraska - Main Room at Slowdown - Complex (USA)
Sat November 18 2023 - LAWRENCE Kansas - Bottleneck (USA)
Sun November 19 2023 - DES MOINES Iowa - xBk (USA)
Tue November 21 2023 - CHICAGO Illinois - Empty Bottle (USA)
Wed November 22 2023 - DETROIT Michigan - Lager House (USA)
Sat December 16 2023 - NEW YORK New York - Bowery Ballroom (USA)
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