Stuck on Beta

Description

A new lo-fi and power-pop release from Smug Brothers, a band from Columbus (Ohio), is making a strong comeback with Stuck on Beta. Less dreamy than their previous album Book of Bad Ideas (2023), this record draws clear and edgy lines in a jangle-pop style with a psychedelic punk twist. From the single "Sidewalk Champagne," the guitar screams, the bass bounces, and the high-pitched vocals cut sharply without softening the message. "Paper Jane" combines romance and roughness in a whirlwind of jangle and stomp. "Take It Out on Me" even flirts with post-punk before shifting into a psychedelic sound with a soaring chorus. If you like Guided by Voices, Teenage Fanclub, or bands signed to Trouble in Mind, you will love this.