by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)
The Bay Area’s Sour Widows have been trickling out singles since last August but the wait for their upcoming self-titled EP is nearly over. Due out on February 28th, the young band show a great deal of promise as they mix bedroom pop, post-hardcore, and a penchant for big melodies and wayward structures. With influences that range from Angel Olsen and Big Thief to Pile and Duster, you can actually hear each of those make their impact in Sour Widows’ songwriting, pushing it toward pop ease and pulling it back out with tension and delightfully unwieldy guitar progressions.
“Open Wide,” the third single from the record is a gorgeously dynamic track that hits in every essence it explores. From the slow twang of the intro arpeggiated chords to the stunning vocal harmonies that feel infectious yet gentle, Sour Widows slowly meander forward (the Big Thief and Pile influences shinning like a beacon of all that’s good), winding their way to impassioned hooks and vocals that shake with impossible precision. Just as the song hits the two minute mark, the walls implode, and anything fragile has since been destroyed. It’s really quiet wonderful, and there’s still plenty of shifting and well-focused wandering to come from there. Give it a listen. Give it a few listens. Tell your pals to have a listen.