Lonnie Gunn’s last two releases seem to be something a of transition, from her prior alt-pop sound to the raw energy of mid-90s grunge. It started with December’s “Dog in a Hot Car” which feels like it was unearthed in a time capsule from 1996: deliberately sluggish grunge with swirling guitars, catchy melodies delivered with disaffected, listless vocal like a queer, obsessed Live Through This-era Courtney Love.
The accompanying video, directed by frequent collaborator Lea Otovic, amplifies the song’s tension: unsettling and magnetic, a clear signal that Gunn’s new era is here to unsettle and enthrall in equal measure.
This grunge vibe continued on “EX GF” released last month, where Gunn’s songwriting sharpens into something more biting and sinister. The track opens with a classic, slow indie bass line and builds into a restrained, riff-heavy chorus, laced with bunny-boiler lyrics (“i’m crying to our sex tape on tv / i hate thinking about the way you used to want me / do you want me now?”), making the song deliciously unhinged.
Earlier singles “Parma Violets,” “Kiss You,” and “Jessie’s Pitbull” all fall somewhere closer to alt-pop than grunge, though the persona of obsessed, unstable girlfriend comes through loud and clear. “Parma Violets” channels a bittersweet nostalgia, pairing Gunn’s confessional lyrics with a heavier, more textured sounds. “Kiss You” is a pop-grunge anthem, its grainy video mirroring the chaos of a more distorted and urgent sound. “Jessie’s Pitbull” stands out for its bombastic swing-jazz drum rhythm and playful melody, but still feels slightly off-balance, ready to collapse into chaos.
Gunn’s voice, sometimes coy and breathy, sometimes a scratchy scream is a dynamic and playful balance to the heaviness of the music. The result is a catalogue that feels both nostalgic and fiercely present. It’s fun to watch Gunn assume the role of the dangerously obsessive ex-girlfriend, and it feels like with every new single she gains character and confidence. Expect to hear more on the Friday Setlist.
