There's a lot of screaming in Bully's first album Feels Like, but a lot of real emotion, too [Review]
Grunge rock band Bully has just released its first full-length album, Feels Like. Featuring loose electric guitar riffs and bone-crushing vocals, it deals with angst, insecurities and all the problems singer Alicia Bagnanno faces as a 20-something.
The album opens with I Remember, a fiery number with explosive vocals and OTT drums. It makes a statement with lyrics like "I remember my old habits …/ And I remember throwing up in your car" - behaviour and pacing reminiscent of last year's Habits by Tove Lo. In fact, several songs seem like lovechildren of Lo's wildness and Miranda Lambert's "crazy ex-girlfriend" persona.
Too Tough, Brainfreeze, and Trash are breezy fun; Picture is the highlight, with Bagnanno's signature snarls and screams punctuating the intense guitar. This, and Milkman (which thrust the band into the spotlight) are pure indie gold.
There's a lot of screaming, which can feel melodramatic. But if you want post-punk and an unapologetic hurricane of emotions, don't miss this.