Although the name Stringer may have conjure up images of Baltimore (thanks to The Wire), the latest release from Wiretap Records is apt to replace your automatic name association. Stringer hail from NYC, with a winning style of indie punk that spans styles and decades. My Bad shouldn’t apologize for its 90s college rock, math rock, and heart-on-its-sleeve punk influences, as they are put to great use. The finger-tapping of “Abergain” melds together wonderfully with the power punk of “Termites” and the grunge pop of “Halving”. Much like their hometown, My Bad succeeds on the back of its diversity. There’s a definitely dose of charm and consistent personality that helps keep things on a consistently winning track, allowing the release to feel much more cohesive.
Unfortunately, Stringer don’t quite stick the landing. “Miss Slovenia” and closer “InFinFly” are two of the album’s weakest songs. In particular, the former is too folky and sleepy for its own good. However, two songs don’t make or break a record, and Stringer’s latest is a winning combination of heady indie and punk grit, smartly straddling both to great effect.
