Worriers is a four piece group from Brooklyn, fronted by Lauren Denitzio, formerly of the band The Measure (SA). With three other full lengths already under their belt, they released You Or Someone You Know on 6131 Records on March 6, 2020.
Their second album, Imaginary Life, was produced by Laura Jane Grace of Against Me!, and showcased an angst and snarl similar to AM!’s releases. While Denitzio doesn’t have the same raw, gritty delivery as AM!, their lyrics provide plenty of bite. This go-around, John Agnello (who also produced records for Dinosaur Jr., The Hold Steady, and Jawbox, among many, many others) was behind the glass, and has helped them create a loud, in-the-front-row feel to the recording.
The record opens up with “End Of The World”, an upbeat track about trying to focus on love despite the perils of climate change. With a background of soaring power chords, Denitzio wonders “What can I possibly say / Is it me or the end of the world? / Cover your eyes and ears and hope I don’t notice and nothing hurts”. Realizing that some problems may take a while to fix, they eventually ask “Could you just hold on to me for now?”
Worriers continues to walk the line between ominous and optimistic on “What Comes Next?”, which spends its verses brooding about “Getting the sense that the game has been thrown” amidst a moody bassline and a palm muted guitar. In the chorus, Denitzio declares triumphantly “I have all the luck I need”.
Throughout the record, Worriers stay true to their moniker, balancing preoccupations with things like equality, natural disasters, loneliness (“Relentless Noise”) and difficult relationships (“Enough”) with empowerment and a call to action. Rather than being paralyzed with fear, they generate a sense of hope, of moving forward despite any perceived setbacks.
The balance is perfectly encapsulated in the closer (aptly named “Grand Closing”), in which Denitzio spends the first few minutes cooing over a few reverbed chords. At the two minute mark, the same lyrics they almost whispered before, have now swelled into an anthem: “So this is how it goes / This is how I walk now”.
Between the power pop of “PWR CPLE”, the killer riff of “Big Feelings”, or the sweet, slow lament of “Terrible Boyfriend”, there’s a mood, emotion, or sound that will appeal to a variety of listeners. With the slight exception of “Chicago Style Pizza Is Terrible” (the title of which I happen to vehemently disagree with), every song hit my ears incredibly well.
Since devouring You Or Someone You Know, I’ve dug back into the Worriers back-catalogue and have especially enjoyed Survival Pop (2018), but where Yourself Or Someone You Know has them all beat is the Denitzio’s introspection and storytelling. Regardless of the listener’s background, I think it’d be difficult to not think of yourself or someone you know during every song. I’m not sure if that’s the point of record title, but I’d certainly recommend Worriers to everybody I know.
RIYL: Against Me!, Foxhall Stacks, Ted Leo, Signals Midwest, New York style pizza
Stream and download You Or Someone You Know on Bandcamp here.
Like Worriers on Facebook here.
This review was written by Marcus Pond.
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