Sunday, September 01, 2024

Hedge - Better Days


Was Husker Du pop-punk? If you correctly answered yes, then Worcester, Massachusetts–based trio Hedge is definitely a band for you. On their debut album Better Days, Christopher, Pete, and Julian hearken back to a time when the lines between indie rock and pop-punk were blurred — if they existed at all. These guys fly the flag for New Day Rising/Flip Your Wig era Huskers, early Lemonheads, and the punkier side of Superchunk — and I've got no complaints whatsoever! If you time traveled back to 1992 and slipped any of these tracks into a block of college radio programming, they would not sound out of place. Better Days delivers a satisfying mix of fast-paced, energetic numbers and more mellow slacker pop gems. The key is that Hedge not only crafts an identifiable sound but also executes it so splendidly. These guys have solid tunes in their bag, and they've made a great-sounding record that ought to appeal to any fan of old school poppy punk. Highly recommended. 

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