Hunger for a Way Out, the debut long player from Boston's Sweeping Promises, is straight-up one of the best albums I've heard this year. Walking the very fine lines between DIY punk, post-punk, and new wave, it inhabits the spirit of college radio circa the early '80s while still sounding totally new and original in 2020. Comparisons to the likes of Kleenex/LiLiPUT and Girls at Our Best! are fully on-point, and I'm reminded in spots of everyone from Gang of Four to Blondie to Wire to early B-52's. But in no way does this band sound derivative of any of the aforementioned acts. Unlike a lot of post-punk that comes off icy and lifeless, the music of Sweeping Promises is energetic, dynamic, and intentionally hooky. Powered by angular guitars, captivating bass lines, and truly exceptional vocals from Lira Mondal, these ten songs really command your attention. Some tracks are brooding, others will make you want to dance, and a few manage to be an improbable combination of both. And I don't know if I've ever heard a recording sound this raw and this good! If you're interested in post-punk that's cool without being cold, this is the band you've been waiting for. An extraordinary debut!
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