Sniff More Gritty

On their previous albums, Du Blonde was so transparent about their pain -- and overcoming it -- that its especially satisfying to hear them sound so liberated on Sniff More Gritty. Like Homecoming and Lung Bread for Daddy, this is a self-produced affair, but this time Du Blonde goes one better, engineering the sessions and playing all the instruments aside from live drums. That may be why they sound supremely confident as they switch from the brash 90s chug of "Perfect" to barbed glam-rock manifestos like the Meat Loaf-worthy "Dollar Coffee" or "Solitary Individual," a duet with Laura Jane Grace with so much theatrical joie de vivre it could be a lost track from Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Du Blonde unites Sniff More Grittys different sounds with poppy production that sparkles like equal parts sugar, tears, and broken glass, and with their viewpoint. They know the difference between toughness and true strength, and its evident on songs such as "ICU." Though Du Blonde doesnt spare any harrowing details ("got the shakes real bad"), they never sound broken. Like the albums sonics, Du Blondes lyrics capture the roughest times and moods with finesse. Their words frequently cut to the quick, whether theyre recalling their early days in the music industry on "Next Big Thing" ("He only touched you a few times/so why does it bother you?"), unpacking dysfunctional relationships on "Blame" ("Just remember Im something you created"), or indulging in self-deprecation on "Lucky" ("Im just an inch away from being what you need"). Sniff More Gritty isnt just brutally witty, its also pretty in a way that Du Blondes music hasnt been in some time. Their fearlessness extends to reclaiming the feather-light delicacy of their voice and melodies, letting it sweeten songs like "Radio Jesus" and giving it center stage on the limpid ballad "Out of a Million." Pursuing their independence has led to some of their most widely appealing songs, and Sniff More Gritty is the musically inventive, emotionally direct, razor-sharp album Du Blonde has always had in them. ~ Heather Phares