TINY RUINS
Olympic Girls
(Ba Da Bing Records)
On Tiny Ruins’ third release, Hollie Fullbrook returns with complex and cryptic lyrics, touching and emotional vocals, and intricate guitar work. Fullbrook eschews a tight, predictable pop structure in favor of songs that change sound and mood during their duration, never meandering and always captivating. Lyrically, she often conveys idealism contrasted with cynicism.
On the title track, she seems to contemplate female empowerment and revolution, noting progress but also the journey ahead by singing, “We were only inches away/Still have a long, long way to go.” The song “Stars, False, Fading” starts off with a dynamic doo-wop influenced melody, and lyrics discussing a love that she knows very well might fade once the harsh sting of reality sets in. Olympic Girls celebrates moments of fleeting joy in a flawed world. 5/5
Olympic Girls is out February 1, 2019
By Adrienne Urbanski
This piece originally appeared in the January/February 2019 print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today!
Top photo: still from "Olympic Girls" music video
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