Speedy Ortiz is a quartet from Northampton, Massachusetts, exploring a subspecies of alternative rock that has yet to get much traction in the ongoing 90s revival—namely the slightly skewed art-pop of groups like Helium and Polvo that straddled the blurry border between Dischord brand posthardcore and Pavement-style indie pop. It just so happens that Helium and Polvo are just about my two favorite bands from that period, so it wasn't hard for their recently released LP Major Arcana (Carpark) to become one of my favorite rock records of the year, full of stoner-fuzzy guitars, slanted pop hooks, and deeply infused with a catchy occult vibe imparted by front woman Sadie Dupuis's tarot-referencing lyrics and overall witchy presence.…
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