Vundabar

Though their songs are brimming with hooks, the Boston group’s main draw is an unpredictable, fast-twitch energy that comes across best in dingy, airless DIY. “Acetone,” the leadoff track from their upcoming LP, Smell Smoke, bursts with streamlined, streaking guitar leads and martial drum rolls, their “you go to see them live” rep finally captured in a crisp, three-minute pop song. Frontman Brandon Hagen’s lyrics are harrowing: “I don’t want you to see the way I’ve been/Doled out a bleached persona,” and the song’s imagery was inspired by his experiences juggling his work as a caretaker for a loved one with the band’s relentless touring. Vulnerable as it is, “Acetone” still rips—and offers new proof that Vundabar are just as compelling offstage as they are on." Pitchfork