Review Summary: Slam Poetry at 6:00, Mosh Pits at 9:00
New York's Show Me The Body have carved out a unique place in the modern punk scene by fusing hardcore, noise rock, hip-hop influences and frontman Julian Pratt's signature banjo into something that feels distinctly their own. Alongside bands like IDLES, they've become one of punk's biggest crossover success stories, appealing just as much to indie fans and norms as they do to hardcore audiences. With
Alone Together, their fourth full-length album, the band dial back the abrasive experimentation and noise elements of previous records in favour of a more direct, straight-forward dance-punk approach.
The attempt at a broader appeal is obvious, with the trumpet and slam poetry pieces giving the album an air of "punk for hipsters" (I'm sure everyone's favourite flannel wearing melonhead will give this a Light 8). Elsewhere, the songwriting shifts between more modern, compassionate, almost communal punk themes (exemplified by the rallying cry of
"Radical love compels me to fight" on 'Eat For Peace') and more classic, confrontational punk anthems like 'No God'.
Thankfully, there's enough thick riffs and infectious grooves underneath all this to keep things exciting and the energy levels high. This is an album that's as danceable as it is aggro, packed with songs that'll get pits moshing and bodies moving, even if they never boil over into that next level. Julian's vocals have enough bite and unhinged desperation to sell every shout and bark, while the ridiculously down-tuned banjo creates a super distinctive sound. It's like hearing a djent band play dance punk.
There are some more low key moments. 'Do What's Right' starts as a restrained slow-burn before building to a strained and desperate climax, while 'See You Again' is a heartfelt banjo-strummed ballad reflecting on friends who've passed away. 'Mileage' immediately kicks the adrenaline back into life with one of the record's nastiest grooves and a gnarly breakdown.
The highlights are easy to pick out. Singles 'Eat For Peace', 'No God' and 'Dance In The USA' all deliver, while 'Mileage' and 'New Line' provide some of the album's biggest riffs.
Like IDLES, Show Me The Body write punk that's designed to reach beyond the traditional scene, embracing broader influences and emotional themes instead of sticking rigidly to genre conventions. Sometimes that results in aggressive, groove-heavy tracks that'll get your blood pumping, other times the softer moments feel a little too limp to leave much of an impact.
Ultimately,
Alone Together is Show Me The Body's most accessible record to date. By stripping away much of their experimental and noise elements and leaning into a more direct dance-punk sound, they've made an album that's consistently enjoyable, without ever quite reaching that next level or going as hard as it feels like it could.
SCORE: ★★★1/2
HIGHLIGHTS: Eat For Peace, No God, Dance In The USA, Mileage, New Line
FFO: IDLES, SOUL GLO, Jesus Piece
