Needles//Pins - "A Rather Strained Apologetic"

Photo by Eric Thorkelson

The first single from Needles//Pins' upcoming fourth album isn't exactly not emo... but it also isn't not not emo, either. First of all, the title is "A Rather Strained Apologetic" is the most emo song title I've heard in years. And the vocals have that rather strained, emotional yell that 90's emo had before it turned into the flat out 00's whine. Musically, there is hardly a shade of emo in the song. It's an aggressively melodic rager. It has all the noise, thrashy guitars, and crashing drums of 90's indie rock, but at times it has the melody and catchiness of The Beach Boys. It's the perfect song for shouting along to at the front of a stage, once that becomes a thing again.

You can listen to "A Rather Strained Apologetic" below. Needles//Pins' self-titled album is due out May 28 on Dirt Cult Records. You can pre-order a copy here. For more on Needles//Pins, check out the band's Facebook.