Hop Along - Bark Your Head Off, Dog

On 2015’s ‘Painted Shut’, Hop Along proved themselves one of the most vital new bands in US indie-rock, fronted by Frances Quinlan’s deliciously gravelly vocals and backed by urgent instrumentation. Third album ‘Bark Your Head Off, Dog’ loosens the grip a little, with crunchy guitars swapped in part for sweeping, breezy acoustics, and the band’s hooks amplified. ‘Somewhere A Judge’ and ‘One That Suits Me’ are the band’s most immediate moments yet, while ‘Not Abel’ is a fascinating left-turn. ‘Prior Things’ then sees the album off into the sunset with a gorgeous breeze. While ‘Painted Shut’ saw Hop Along forcefully establish themselves as a band to be reckoned with, LP3 shows they’re just as enticing and attention-grabbing when practicing restraint.