High Waisted - "Sick Of Saying Sorry"
High Waisted, the project of guitarist/vocalist Jessica Louise Dye and drummer Jono Bernstein, has been impressing listeners for years with their hook-filled songs that artfully blend garage rock, surf riffs, high-energy punk, and vintage pop. They remain a staple of the New York City music scene, sharpening just the right amount of edge into their sound to give it that Big Apple grit without sacrificing their sunny disposition. Their latest effort, Sick Of Saying Sorry, maintains many of the same characteristics that have become synonymous with their signature sound but also sets the course for uncharted territory by mixing in elements of psychedelia and dream pop with coming of age lyrical themes.
The album’s three singles, “Boys Can’t Dance, “Modern Love,” and “Drive” kick things off with a bang, showcasing right off the bat the sonic diversity of High Waisted’s current sound. “Boys Can’t Dance” embodies the classic, fun-loving High Waisted sound. It has that tried and true anthemic quality that’s easy to sing and bop your head along to - an ode to lost weekends with an irresistible groove. “Modern Love” has tinges of summertime psychedelia, while “Drive” is more personal and melancholic, exploring a dense, shimmering dream-pop sound that expounds on what Dye describes as “sacrificing your own happiness for the well being of others and carrying that burden without complaint.” The breezy feelings of “Drive” carry over to the bright bursts of brass on “Burdens,” a song that similarly addresses the emotional toll that results from taking on a loved one’s baggage as your own.
Other album standouts include “Cereal,” a heart-tugging, introspective song that cycles through those “what if?” and “could have been” moments that sometimes hit you totally unprompted. Yes, even while you’re doing something as routine and simple as eating cereal, as Dye sings: “ It never get easier / I’m just, sitting here, pouring milk over stale cereal / It never get easier /I’m just waiting here, hoping things can stay simple.” Thereafter, the record continues its eclectic variety, weaving in the woozy and hazy desert psych of “8th Amendment,” before settling into “Eyes Crying,” a yearning power ballad. Sick of Saying Sorry ends with an exclamation point, as Dye showcases her vocal range by straight-up belting out some verses on “Giving Up,” while the final track, “Fine,” features some of the crunchiest riffs of the whole lot.
You can purchase Sick of Saying Sorry on limited edition vinyl via the band’s website. You can also stream their interview on the April 18th edition of Local Fidelity via Spotify or your favorite streaming platform!
