The Comeback Kid by Marnie Stern

It’s one thing to read an infographic stating “progress isn’t linear,” but when life demands struggling the reality of this idea can be frustrating and disheartening. A decade since her last release, Marnie Stern returns to perfectly express this feeling of regression for the sake of progress in The Comeback Kid. Despite the dreary concept, Stern tears through each track of irregular prog indie with tenacious purpose, building complex layers of sound with squeaky guitars and frenetic percussion. These elements are coupled with clear, emotive vocals and a self-referential approach that add a pleasant sense of humor to this technically impressive project. Stern is clearly determined to bring the fun back to indie music as The Comeback Kid holds space for life’s complexities as it balances prettiness with grit and emotion. - Carrie