Brandon Can’t Dance - 17

The newly Frank Ocean-approved Alex G has a lot to say about fellow Philadelphia cult hero Brandon Can’t Dance. “When I was younger I would see his band play all the fucking time,” he told Noisey, calling him “the only applicable example of someone that I really admired.” Like Alex G, Brandon Ayres has a deep catalogue of already-released material. Similar to starting a TV show that’s several seasons in, to grasp the full picture of why he’s adored in his home city, it’s a long mission - beginning with several Bandcamp releases.

But for the unacquainted, ’17’ works just as well as a starting point. His vocals are coated in distortion, but not to the point where words are drowned out. Everything is perfectly clear, tales of being “young, free, spacing out”, doubts and insecurities swimming around a perfect pool of gorgeous noise. There’s more magic to be found in how these bugged-out verses switch from fidgety refrains, and then right back to fuller, richer instrumentation. Rough around the edges, ’17’ sounds easy on the surface, but peer a little closer and there’s an undoubted star holding the ropes, controlling every second like a master of puppets. As introductions go, ’17’ is nicely indicative of why he’s so beloved in his Philadelphia DIY scene.