Monday 8/10: Palberta—"Something in the Way"
Today, we share our thoughts on a new song by the New York indie band Palberta.
Welcome to Endless Scroll, the brainchild of Eli Enis (he/him) and Eric Bennett (they/them). Since Feb. 2019, we’ve been a weekly podcast about music, the internet, and where those two things intersect. Now we’re, also a M-F newsletter about songs. Our format is simple: a link to a song and a short take from each of us about what we think of it. Each day of the week has a corresponding genre: Monday is indie, Tuesday is punk, Wednesday is hip-hop, Thursday is pop, and Friday is misc.
Today, we share our thoughts on a new song by the New York indie band Palberta.
Palberta—“Something in the Way”
Eric Bennett:
Palberta has long been a band I wanted to fall for. Lily Konigsberg’s unique voice is right up my alley, and they often played with other bands I love. Unfortunately, I have just never connected with them like that. Their songs felt like sketches, the framework of an idea, but half-finished. Their new single “Something in The Way” feels like them cleaning up that sketch, coloring in the picture. It has one of the most instantly catchy melodies I’ve heard them do, but isn't straightforward or predictable. The drums may not be loud, but they are fast enough to make your heart race, and the random crashes of sound keep you on your toes. It’s excellent, and I will have to give their earlier work a fresh look.
Eli Enis:
Palberta are the type of band that musicians I respect speak of with eyebrow raising reverence. Like Eric, their quirky style of mathy but not pretentious indie-rock never really connected with me, and when I saw them play a cramped, sweaty set at a Stereogum SXSW showcase, I really wanted to like them more than I actually did. This new single falls somewhere between gnashing post-punk and twisty art-rock, but with snare taps that clop like a trotting horse. I can admire their unique approach but this one still doesn’t sell me on them. I don’t find the hook to be all that catchy, and although I think the instrumentals are quirky, I don’t think they’re all that interesting. They remind me of like a stripped-back version of Palm or Empath, which are two indie-rock bands that thrive on wacky time-signatures, kooky rhythms, and non-traditional grooves. Palberta are equally if not more talented players, but I don’t think the songs they’re playing are as colorful as I’d like them to be. Tight band, just not my thing.