Now That's What I Call Little Hag

The insistent electronic pulse and washes of vintage synth sounds on "The Machine" that lead off 2024s Now Thats What I Call Little Hag, the third album from the New Jersey indie outfit, make it clear up front that theyve been experimenting with new musical ideas since they released 2021s Leash. Then the second track comes up, and the dirty guitars and organic drums on "Oops!" remind us Little Hag havent entirely abandoned their original formula, theyve just been adding new ingredients, and keyboard player Cara Introcaso, who makes her debut with the group on this LP, is more than earning her paycheck. Vintage synth pop and more current electronic dance music play a noticeable role on Now Thats What I Call Little Hag, and in this context it works, especially on Avery Mandevilles raucous kiss-off to a her ex on "You Blew It!," the wobbly soundscapes of "All 3," and the cool, disco-informed groove of "The Suburbs." That said, theres as much indie pop in these songs as electronics, and the languid slide guitars of "King Cake," the rumbly but subdued neuroses of "HHSTTHN" ("Hungry horny, silly tired, tired horny numb"), and the solo acoustic self-incrimination of "God Im So Annoying" show this band has the vision and confidence to try plenty of different things and deliver each time. The biggest reason for this albums high batting average is singer and principal songwriter Avery Mandeville, whose instrument is bold even as she embraces the vulnerability of her natural quaver, and can write about the downsides of adult lives and the annoyances of human interaction with impressive clarity and mordant wit. Mandeville is smart without being cocky about it, strong without thinking shes flawless, and her voice (both literally and lyrically) is what makes Little Hag something truly special. Now Thats What I Call Little Hag may surprise some fans, but give it a few spins and its strengths will quickly reveal themselves, and newbies will likely find this fresh and satisfying. ~ Mark Deming