Judy – Songs of Mutt and Hate

Self-released

Sorry David Bowie, but we gotta talk about Judy — in this case, Judy being the new project of Blue Broderick of Diners and Leah B. Levinson of Agriculture. The duo just released their debut EP, Songs of Mutt and Hate, a set of five perfect power pop songs the likes of which Broderick has proved herself adept at crafting time and time again. While Levinson’s work with her spiritually enriching black metal outfit isn’t as obvious of a link to the material here, these songs expand the scope of what to expect from her talents. 

These songs, of mutt and hate, shine because of Broderick and Levinson’s ability to take something that seems initially obvious and twist it ever so slightly. “Candy” calls to mind the Jesus and Mary Chain classic, “Just Like Honey,” with its fuzzed-out guitar and deadpan delivery of, “but I was just like candy.” But where Jesus and Mary Chain used their musical form to express a feeling of euphoria in sublimation to love, Judy use it to wallow in the agony of only being friends with someone you love. A similar trick is pulled on “Fall For Love,” a song about feeling foolish for, well, falling for love. The song isn’t about a single girl, but falling prey to the tropes of falling in love. On the other side of things, “Dinner Bells” is a song about getting eaten playing out over the sweetest melody and instrumental on the whole project. As the song progresses, lackadaisical backing vocals and a regal synth enter, making it even more of a joyous occasion. Being cannibalized has never sounded so damn fun!

My favorite song on this project is about a more pure feeling, that of wanting to protect your friend from a bum-ass man. “My Best Friend (So God Help Me)” captures what happens when a rosy haze covers up someone’s red flags. You might see through this person, but your friend is hopelessly head-over-heels. Levinson lays out all the ways this dude annoys her before making her, very specific, promises of how she’ll protect her friend, like how she’ll “beat him with a fucking wrench.” It’s the one song on the record about pure love, the kind of mutual love that makes you do crazy, violent things. The track ends on a short Weezer-esque guitar solo, because sometimes words can’t express the ways you love someone.

Songs of Mutt and Hate is a great little slice of power pop, and I am left barking like a dog for more. Broderick and Levinson have formed an incredible partnership here, and I hope they continue to crank out more hits, because I want to keep talking about them. Judy delivers a wrench to the head, asserting that every song will get stuck.