Blondshell Review

Blondshell, the self-titled debut long play from L.A.-based indie rock artist Sabrina Mae Teitelbaum, better known as Blondshell, continues the tradition of the 90’s rock renaissance spearheaded by artists like Snail Mail and Soccer Mommy and perfected by artists like Pom Pom Squad and beabadoobee.

Blondshell’s music includes the kind of loud quiet loud bombast exemplified by bands like Nirvana in the early 90’s with a modern sophistication and pop sheen that makes each song a potential earworm.  Pop culture-aware opening song Veronica Mars weaves in and out of the lot quiet loud model and rolls right into Kiss City, which punctuates that formula with softer moments accompanied by piano contrasted with moments of shouting and searing guitar solos. It’s complex indie rock. Emotional, raw, and engaging.

Lead single Olympus is a meandering, quiet, acoustic guitar-based number that could easily be mistaken for a Nirvana, Radiohead, or Noel Gallagher song, depending on where you drop in.

Many of these songs have an echoey, dramatic sound. Blondshell does an excellent job building the drama in each of these songs. Her voice is engaging whether she’s whisper quiet or shouting at the top of her lungs, it’s powerful, unique and steady. Explosive guitars, loud drums, ringing keyboards and even the occasional epic guitar solo make this album pretty accessible to a broad range of rock fans.

This album reminds me a lot of Pom Pom Squad’s 2021 release Death of a Cheerleader. Great, melodic indie rock with pop sensibilities and something to say. Thematically, Blondshell tackles issues of rage, toxicity, heartbreak, relationships, queerness, religion and so much more.

Blondshell is a terrific release. If you like music like Liz Phair, Nirvana, Pixies, or Belly this is for you. ****