It’s obviously more polished and cohesive than the Madison, Wisconsin band’s previous efforts, but it lacks the individuality that made Slow Pulp stand out in the first place

The Midwest indie rock band returns with a new wave-influenced album that explores our innate desire to understand and be understood

Unfortunately, Melodie doesn’t quite contain the charisma of Slow Pulp’s previous discography, and two or three indie-pop gems can’t quite save the album from its own repetitive drawl

It’s only been 3 years since Yard but hearing Slow Pulp now feels different, like they have traded their thrifted clothes for a trendier fashion. In “Red Car” Massey sings “I need a new start,” and that’s what Melodie feels like, a new beginning, a reintroduction

Full of engaging, low-key hooks and Massey's weary, sympathy-provoking vocals, Melodie remains on theme throughout, closing on the more anguished "Slip Away," a frustrated electric guitar ballad that leaves the singer alone with her post-breakup emotions

Often, their attention is trained backwards, but they're never lost to time. And if they keep progressing like they do on Melodie, pretty soon a lot more people will be humming to their tune

It has fuzzy bits, pretty bits, noisy bits and sad bits; occasionally several at once

With Sleeping in the Aviary’s Elliott Kozel producing, the Chicago band’s third album uses solid shoegaze and alt-pop to explore how our greatest fears, wants, and needs often stay the same, even as we change

It's angsty, but Emily Massey's vocal floats through guitars that fuzz and swell, giving 'Melodie' the easy appeal of Alvvays or Soccer Mommy

Melodie feels like the most accomplished and intentional Slow Pulp album yet. This is what overnight success sounds like when you're more than decade in