5/23 Playlist Update: Dollhouse, Femcel + More
“Time Suck(s) (Single Version),” DANA
Columbus’ DANA reside on the artsier end of the punk spectrum, alongside their fellow Ohioans Fruit Looops. The single version of “Time Suck(s)” crosses post-punk ingenuity with egg punk quirkiness and garage-punk grime– all for a song about the mundanity of working a less-than-glamorous job just to barely scrape by.
“Nobodys Favorite,” Dollhouse
A personal favorite for reasons disclosed below, Dollhouse matched the quality of their previous work (“The Shadow Baby” included) throughout the new EP I Hate You Dont Leave Me (Toxic State Records). On “Nobodys Favorite,’ singer Michelle Caiazzo vents about body dysmorphia in a way that might make you feel less alone. (Would being in a rad punk band make you feel pretty and gorgeous all the time? Not necessarily.)
Dollhouse has a more mind-blowing “ex-members of” situation than our beloved Warp. Drummer Hank Wood needs no introduction if you’ve followed the New York punk scene since 2012. On guitar you’ve got Sasha Stroud (80HD, Church Clothes, Firewalker) and Tye Miller (L.O.T.I.O.N. (and Michelle’s bandmate in Mommy)). (Experimental artist Pharmakon has (or still does?) play(ed) with the band, as well, but she isn’t listed on our Discogs cheat sheet. Record collector dads might have dropped the ball here.)
They’re also the raddest because of the whole black-eyed doll aesthetic. This time, she’s got her own overpriced, undersized bedroom in NYC, complete with tiny and empty pill bottles and a very limited wardrobe– an image that fits the tones and topics of the record.
P.S. Dollhouse’s 2022 tour date in Nashville with Twompsax fell just weeks before I came out as trans (not that the inevitable wouldn’t have happened anyway). Always remember that you never know who needs to see or hear your art at a pivotal moment in their life.
Chunks,” Femcel
A new band that’s been playing shows for less than a year, Femcel excels at three-chord, feminist, budget-rock-on-a-budget punk on “Chunks.” It’s lo-fi in the sort of way that leaves you convinced that this Brooklyn-based trio –their Lilith-tier bassist in particular– brings the exact same energy when seen live and in living color. (Tour if you can, please! <3)
The entire album it’s from, Piss Baby, can be downloaded on Bandcamp at a price of your own choosing. It opens with a cover of Splendora’s theme song for Daria and never lets up, with “Heart Shaped Sunglasses” and “Cat Ass” furthering our Femcel fascination.
“Turn to Love,” Parsnip
Yet another Australian act worth a go as one of your special interests, Parsnip solidified their place in the garage-punk space with Behold, their sophomore album. “Turn to Love” captures the spirit of both the dreamy, harmony-driven soundscapes of Grass Widow and the ‘60s-flavored songwriting of Gringo Star. Plus, it’s built around some of the best organ accompaniment we’ve heard in ages.
“No Means No,” Radical Kitten
In the spirit of Huggy Bear, Toulouse, France’s Radical Kitten share inclusive feminist messages through sonically abrasive means. A selection from the album Uppercat, “No Means No” is a groove-driven, chant-along scorcher that ropes you in with slightly surfy riffs and an impeccable rhythm section. Those musical elements heighten the sense of urgency in such lines as “No means no/ Patriarchy fuck off.”