Written by Sarah

Growing and changing can be bittersweet. When your music taste changes and matures, sometimes bands you used to love don't hit quite the same, and sometimes the band grows and changes and their music goes in a direction that no longer resonates with you. For that reason, it feels like such a privilege when a new record perfectly aligns to evolve in the same way you have. And for me, Show Me the Body's newest album, Alone Together, released on July 10, was the perfect album for exactly that reason. 

For much of Show Me the Body's 17-year career, the New York-based experimental punk trio have given us angry, sludgy, and spirited anthems. Their music and shows have been a release for the band and the audience alike. To rid ourselves of the oppressive negativity we all have built up, stemming from the abuse of power seen in the political climate. Their music’s purpose has always been to remind the listener that the anger felt when witnessing daily injustices is warranted and that feeling angry together is better than feeling angry alone. 

It’s been four years since Show Me the Body’s last release. Within that timeframe frontman Julian Pratt has become a father, experienced the tragic death of his mentor, and adopted a new set of values. In the album Alone Together, we’re given a new and refined sound that feels like a band that has matured and will continue to unapologetically be themselves. Which is both entirely on brand and entirely new for a band that has always been difficult to bottle up into a single genre. Alone Together manages to bring a brighter, cleaner sound while still keeping its sound unmistakably theirs, as they expand on their hardcore, punk, grunge and hip hop roots. 

The album’s intro has Pratt standing in as a reassuring voice inside of our heads, advocating for self-expression, covering themes of feeling alone and reminding us that no matter what we must keep a disciplined mindset. We go directly into “Eat For Peace,” a song that I personally can’t wait to experience live at their upcoming tour. A song built on sharp post-punk energy. We get a moment of repose as the lines “Just take my hand/And come and arm yourself, We can be friends/You don’t have to harm yourself” are compassionately sung over a familiar sounding banjo melody, reminding the listener of the diverse existence of people trying to fight together for what matters most in life and how the anger that we feel does not have to be taken out on each other. 

Songs like “No God” and “Dance In The USA” carry the same upbeat, moshable, and catchy spirit of their previous releases but in a way that sounds more meticulously crafted than ever before. Another standout track for me was “Do What’s Right (Happy)” which felt like their own interpretation of a Nirvana song, with the same gloomy grunge elements that make someone feel like they’re listening to a vulnerable confession, and about to explode. 

The final track “Alone Together” encapsulates how influential they have become, they have weathered the storm of criticism from the hardcore crowd and embraced a unique twist on the genre in a way that very few bands have been able to accomplish.  

Through and through, this album is more than just another strong entry in Show Me The Body’s discography. It's a testament to the rare, powerful bond between an artist and a listener moving at the exact same pace. When I listen to this album one thing is clear: Show Me The Body hasn't just evolved their sound, they’ve moved along with us towards a more optimistic future, together.