Speedy Ortiz - Real Hair - EP Vinyl Record LP

For Real Hair, Speedy Ortiz enlisted the production services of Paul Q. Kolderie, who helped the band untangle some of the knotty discordances of its debut album, Major Arcana, in much the same way he helped the Pixies and Dinosaur Jr. balance their heavy and poppy impulses. It's a fitting collaboration since Sadie Dupuis and company still often resemble a composite of Helium's tangled guitar interplay, Liz Phair's throaty vulnerability, and Bettie Serveert's ability to sound fragile and moshpit-ready at the same time. This time, however, the mix feels more organic and melodic, especially on the EP's bookends. "American Horror" and "Shine Theory" bring the band's hooks -- and Dupuis' vocals -- to the fore, while satisfyingly crunchy guitars and ever-so-slightly less cryptic lyrics ("You'd be out on a stretcher after your home stretch") serve as reminders that this is still the same band behind Major Arcana.