“Magnifying Glass” - Girlpool

There’s a good chance it takes more time to read this post than it does to watch Girlpool’s “Magnifying Glass” video. The advertisement YouTube tried to stick me with the first time I watched it was at least twice as long. That’s the magic of a Girlpool or a Frankie Cosmos or any of my other ten most recent new favorites - they create brief, fabulous melodies that stick and stay. Big, distended epics are cool and all, but usually I’d rather twirl about on my walk downtown, singing “I just miss how it felt standing next to you/Wearing matching dresses before the world was big.”

That’s a different song, though. “Magnifying Glass” is the most extreme example of these spare, earnest songs that compel me to worry fellow pedestrians with my gleeful sidewalk antics. It’s the shortest song on an album of such (Before the World Was Big) by a fairly wide margin. The video makes the most of its forty seconds, taking the lyrics quite literally in a series of stop motion photos - teeth magnified, faces mushed with dandelions, people pulled, people growing in the garden, “pick with your hands.” It’s such ephemeral delight.

Listen to the album, whether it’s news to you or not. There’s a good chance they’re playing near you soon - go see them.

“Alone at the Show” - Girlpool

We have been meaning to “officially” contribute to the praise for Girlpool for a while now (we’re not sure how we didn’t post about the Slutever split). There have been plenty of opportunities, but we’re seizing this one because (a) what a rad song, and (b) THE LE SIGH Vol. II.

The truly wonderful folks at The Le Sigh recently announced their second zine and tape, along with the 12/21 launch party. This second volume is heralded by a new Girlpool track - “Alone at the Show.”

An earnest, sub-two minute track, it not only evokes a sentiment I’ve dealt with - I’m solo and anxiety-riddled at shows more often than not - but does so with great heft. That bass is a fantastic foundation, and the way they sing out the title is cutting. It’s fun and punk and why am I tearing up.

It is the first song on the new tape, which will include a few of our favorites and a number of names new to us, who will likely become favorites ere long. Any leftover tapes and zines will go up for sale the next day. Find all the information here, and catch up on the first volume here.

- Tyler Hanan