Bitter Sister is a compelling EP from Jemmy Joe, offering a number of variations of the title monitor — from ardent rock outpouring to a Impartial Milk Resort-esque acoustic pulse. Jemmy Joe was initially a famous artist within the Bay Space folk-punk scene, taking part in banjo with For Concern The Hearts Of Males Are Failing. A transfer to Olympia, Washington coincided with a deal with residence recording and extra standard songwriting. The most recent instance of that DIY pursuit comes by way of the Bitter Sister EP, which enjoyably showcases the artist’s aesthetical and tonal vary inside the identical track.
A gripping mixture of acoustic and digital components adorn the opening “Bitter Sister (organized).” Clanking guitars and spacey synth unease meld with suave cohesion amidst layers of expressive vocals, enamoring notably through the closing “my coronary heart ought to be nicely schooled,” hovering. Glimmering electronics add an atmospheric grip alongside. Lyrically, Jemmy Joe describes the monitor as “me processing via an estranged relationship with my sister,” — and that heart-on-sleeve prowess is definitely delivered, reckoning with nostalgia, grief, and unresolved pressure that comes with estrangement.
“Who’s this stranger, that I laughed with, once we had been so numb and tender?” the vocals ask, reflecting on a time of nice concord. A peppier post-punk feeling arises on the following “(broke and angular),” model, channeling a no-frills arsenal of bouncing bass and jangling guitar that culminates in an anthemic indie-rock vigor. The following “(cassette & useless)” take beckons to the aforementioned Impartial Milk Resort, embracing an acoustic-led ferocity amidst the elongated croon. Capped off by the monitor’s instrumental model, Bitter Sister is an inviting journey via Jemmy Joe’s compelling songwriting and eclectic stylistic modes.
