Album of the Week: Hinds Leave Me Alone

Seasonal music is a tricky thing, and everyone has their own definition of the perfect music for a snowy winter or sunny summer day. As a listener, I've found sunny music works better in the winter than vice versa (because really, who wants snow in June?) and the right amount of pep and energy on a grey, cold day can make all the difference.

So in the heart of winter, be thankful for Hinds and their debut full-length, Leave Me Alone, which injects some grungy electricity into the garage-rock scene.

The Spanish quartet don't do anything new or groundbreaking in the 12 tracks on the album, but what they bring in spades are hooks and sharp writing in their lyrics.

Album opener "Garden" tells the story of a good girl fallen for a bad boy, and while that story has certainly been told to death, writers Ana Perrote and Carlotta Cosials find a unique way to get across the feeling of being in a relationship with someone that doesn't really match with you:

And I feel like I’m freezing again

You won’t say you’re bored anymore

‘cause I can take you dancing.

Use me to feel home.

That last line is absolutely brutal, and how effortlessly it comes across is a testament to the writers' ability.

Another album standout is "Chili Town," which makes use of some seriously sexy and sarcastic language to try to grab the attention of someone. It's not clear whether that that person is new or a past love, but lines like

I am flirting with this guy

Just to pretend I’m fine

Saliva mixed with lies my laugh is oversized

Forever yours, right?

give the song a wonderful air of mystery.

And the musicians can just create a piece of startling beauty when they want to, as on the instrumental "Solar Gap," which features some luminously gorgeous guitar lines.

Leave Me Alone grows on you, and each repeat listen provides more hooks and wit for the listener. All and all, this is a lovely grace note to start the year off.

Leave Me Alone is out on Mom+Pop/Lucky Number.

Also recommended this week:

David Bowie's jazz-rock amalgamation, ★.

The Straight Out of Compton soundtrack.