It’s easy to see where Speedy Ortiz’s clever, biting lyrics come from. Sadie Dupuis, the band’s frontwoman, recently received her Master of Fine Arts degree in poetry from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and her way with words is clearly depicted in their newest album, Foil Deer. Since the band’s first release, Major Arcana in 2013 and 2014’s EP, “Real Hair,” Speedy Ortiz’s songwriting style has transformed. They have undergone a metamorphosis that took them from a talented garage band to a lyrical force with which to be reckoned.
While Major Arcana was fiery and intense, it was mainly a break-up album. Foil Deer expands upon the idea of anger and uncertainty in a relationship and delves into the world of real-world systemic issues. Unlike many of the New England area college rock bands, however, they are able to do this in an intelligent way without coming off as too high-brow or brainy. The mix of scholarly metaphors and quick one-liners shows Dupuis’ affinity for the human language, but still makes Foil Deer entertaining to listen to. Lines like, “Brain like a Sphinx, but got nails like a prom queen,” from “My Dead Girl” show Dupuis’ punchy and confident attitude while, “I go riding in cars, but I’m not the driver,” from the same song shows a deeper, more vulnerable side. Unlike most moody indie albums, Foil Deer gives a call to action. Sadie Dupuis wants us all to know that, as she sings in “Raising the Skate,” “I’m not bossy, I’m the boss.”
Speedy Ortiz succeeds in deepening the content of their lyrics without losing their grungy garage-rock sound. They’re able to keep each song musically complex (with rich harmonies and unique textures) and still maintain a loose vibe. Listening to Foil Deer left me with the breathless and exhilarated feeling that I just came out of a sweaty house show; I can only imagine the energy they would have when performing live.
Grade: A
