A standout, stylish single, with riot-grrrl energy and post-punk foreboding, “TONGUE OUT” is the latest from Judy Doom. Led by Caits Meissner and Effy Dalton, the project enthralls with a dynamic tour-de-force of a sound. Grimy guitar pulses, theatrical vocal soulfulness, and absorbing woodwind flourishes enamor throughout. A menacing, chugging guitar progression is quickly met by those woodwinds, then followed by an angsty vocal layering: “I was looking for artists, and I got assholes.”
“I was looking to connect,” the vocals assume a more expressive, soaring quality, “looking to shine” as the art-rock sound persists. A quivering, haunting vocal shift amidst the “it’s my turn to be heard” line is particularly gripping, with this slowed-down rock entrancement building to a contagious, brisker finale. Consuming from start to finish, “TONGUE OUT” is a definitive rock success from Judy Doom.
—
This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
