Joanna Gruesome
Peanut Butter
Slumberland Records
Street: 05.19
Joanna Gruesome = Veronica Falls x Perfect Pussy x Martha
 
Following up their smashing 2013 debut, Weird Sister, U.K. noisemakers Joanna Gruesome supply Peanut Butter with a confident appraisal of their sonic and psychic convictions. In 10 brief tracks, the group’s second album expands upon their penchant for insanely catchy indie-pop hooks and in-your-face punk with a headfirst leap into assured song craft, cramming rocketship tunes into a short firecracker of a record. Without giving too much away, there are guitar solos, surreal lyrical scenarios, ace tunes (single “Last Year” and “There Is No Function Stacy” are stellar), Alanna McArdle’s sugary sweet vocals (and shouts) and more, all zipped together into a noisy, cohesive statement by the band. No matter what you want to call them, Joanna Gruesome are pure fucking magic and proof that great tuneage is not only possible—it’s necessary. –Christian Schultz