The sound of Alex Lahey has grown heftier over the course of a few records. Her new one, The Answers is Always Yes, finds the Aussie singer navigating heavy riffs and big hooks. There's a lot of direct pleasures to be had in the grooves of this, especially for fans who've watched the artist's progression all along.
"Good Time" is Liz Phair-y, while "Congratulations" is very nearly a Pixies song. The chords are crunchy, but the melody is summery and bright. It's a real highlight here on The Answer is Always Yes, as is "You'll Never Get Your Money Back", a wry bit of business right after that one, and the cynical "Shit Talkin'" later on the record. "On the Way Down" is more the kind of thing I've grown to love from this singer. It's fast, impassioned, but clean and sharp in execution and production. When I hear something like this from Alex, I think, "Well, this is the one that's going to be a huge hit for her!" I don't know if that's going to happen, but for those with good taste, almost everything on The Answer is Always Yes is a smash.
The Answer is Always Yes by Alex Lahey is out today.
[Photo: Ponneh Ghana]