Album review
Philadelphia punk and hardcore band Open City have announced a new LP, Hands in the Honey Jar, arriving October 6 via Get Better Records. The follow-up to their 2017 self-titled debut was produced by Arthur Rizk. Check out lead single ‘Return Your Stolen Property Is Theft’ below, along with the album artwork (by Jem Cohen) and tracklist.
“’Return Your Stolen Property Is Theft’ as a musical statement, showcases all the things we do best,” guitarist Dan Yemin commented in a statement. “It heavily alludes to mid-80 Dischord and early Ink & Dagger, while acknowledging what we all know in our deepest heart of hearts: the Faith/Void split is a false binary.”
“The intent for any album this band has created has always been to put together a collection of songs that hit hard, but also touch on a wide range of creative influence,” vocalist Rachel Rubino said of Hands in the Honey Jar. “I love Hatebreed as much as I love Beyoncé as much as I love Pissed Jeans as much as I love Bikini Kill, does that give you a reference for my contribution?”
Yemin added: “From a songwriting perspective we were looking for this record to be rendered from a more expanded palette of influences, while at the same time being more stripped-down sonically. While the band continues to exist in the context of a reverence for the basement epiphanies of the golden age of DIY hardcore punk, we were also making room for UK post-punk influences and some of the more hypnotic and repetitive tactics utilized by Lungfish and Unwound.”
Hands in the Honey Jar Cover Artwork:
Hands in the Honey Jar Tracklist:
1. Gassed
2. Lukewarm
3. Fever Dream
4. Blitz Kids Stay Sick
5. No One Thinks About You More Than You
6. Return Your Stolen Property Is Theft
7. Sentimental Scum
8. Bobby
9. Carry Us
10. Destined
11. Everything
12. Wolf
