Indie-rock with a punch
Philadelphia-based quartet Speedy Ortiz displayed a variety of complex themes in their fourth record Rabbit Rabbit. In a work that showcases the group’s vocal and instrumental abilities, the quartet alluded to the ideals of perseverance, revenge and the consequences of speaking up.
Rabbit Rabbit allows Speedy Ortiz to depict their range while staying true to their indie rock origins. Pieces such as their opening “Kim Cattrall” and “Ranch vs. Ranch” showcase the band’s recognized style– indie rock with a distinguishable voice. Though Speedy Ortiz retains this style throughout the album, Sadie Dupuis’s vocal range along with Andy Molholt’s many abilities on guitar allow the group to incorporate intriguing elements from different styles throughout Rabbit Rabbit. Dream-pop introductions evident in songs “Who’s Afraid of the Bath” and “Brace Thee” create an esoteric aura essential to the sometimes difficult themes presented in the album. More traditional rock-like elements present in “Scabs” and “Kitty” add a grunginess to Rabbit Rabbit, helping them present the roughness synonymous with the process of perseverance.
Through dabbling in other styles throughout Rabbit Rabbit, Speedy Ortiz effectively communicates a variety of complex sentiments often presented separately. Primarily, Speedy Ortiz presents themes of the everlasting need for revenge, motivation and perseverance and the consequences of violence within the industry. Struggles with the desire for revenge in the face of wrongdoing appear clearly in “Plus One,” “Cry Cry Cry” and “The Sunday.” The band contrasts this sentiment with an inspiring one– boundless motivation. This idea is apparent in “Kim Cattrall” and “You S02,” which incorporates an upbeat tune synonymous with its lyrics.
Speedy Ortiz notably tackles larger issues within the music industry throughout Rabbit Rabbit, most impressively in “Who’s Afraid of the Bath.” Dupuis beautifully conveys the tale of a blatant wrongdoing she faced– and an inability and unwillingness to bring any tangible repercussions. In this slower piece, Speedy Ortiz seemingly speaks to a specific incident while simultaneously alluding the unfortunate universality of this occurrence.
Rabbit Rabbit fuses its experimentation in different genres in an almost descending fashion– the album starts off with the quicker beats evident in its introductory “Kim Cattrall,” slows down to communicate more serious undertones in “Who’s Afraid of the Bath” and finishes out neutrally with “Ghostwriter.” Rabbit Rabbit presents an interesting contrast in this regard– slowing down as its lyrics grow increasingly intense and leveling out afterwards. This variation in tone adds a distinguishable element to Rabbit Rabbit which further helps highlight its complexity.
Speedy Ortiz’s fifth album Rabbit Rabbit communicates a variety of themes– perseverance, revenge and the industry’s hand in propagating violence– in a beautiful and nuanced manner. As they experiment in different styles, they still stay true to their indie rock origins to display their many intertwined themes.
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