Punchy power pop to play loud and ponder from the ever brilliant Annie Dressner.

Release Date : 21st February 2025

Label: Self Released

Format: Digital

WHO BUYS SINGLES ANYWAY?!

I never quite get who actually buys singles these days, but I think I am slowly sort of getting it. This is my theory, anyway, as well as, increasingly, my practice. I get the promo aspect, ahead a longer release, and the instant grats of getting a song or two early, even the need to get a new song out there, now, into the market place, before it fades.

That, possibly, is the artist, but the buyer, the consumer, it’s a different game, and, starved of physical outlets to browse in, online is (mostly) all we got. Sure, occasional crate digging expeditions in the backstreets of unlikely towns, or the self-limiting charms of an HMV, but little now beats a browse on some of the streamers. It’s the closest to the old record store experience left, and you get to listen before you buy. Click on search and you are off. I generally go by genre, as that is as wide as it is loose, and before you know it, you are somewhere familiar.

They’re canny are these platforms, ready for those unsuspecting forays, swift to learn that even a couple of new and otherwise unavailable songs aren’t going to bust the pre-set budget. (Yeah, right.) Annie Dressner is one such, an artist we here at ATB are already well acquainted with. So, of course, a single, or whatever you wish to call it, yup, easy. Click. It helps when it is good, and this one, no surprise, surprise, is.

FOR THE THRILL OF IT

For The Thrill Of It is pure powerpop of the jangletastic best, one of those girls with guitars songs that bring back a heady rush of the Bangles, the Go-Gos, all sung with the sort of impeccable American accent, think Jane Wiedlin, that turned this sort of boy’s head back in the, well, back then. But this is serious stuff, well sort of, a litany of the minor transgressions that might tempt for the eponymous reason given. So touching wet paint, pressing emergency buttons, and my favourite, around taking single items from a multi-pack. The lyric even offers the helpful prompt that “You’re not meant to buy them like that “.

Underlying this frivolity is a warning around how such actions, and their acceptance, can be a mere footfall away from more sinister activities, that become lulled into “it’s just banter” bids for tolerance. Dressner has never shied away from the hypocrisies rife in, especially, the music industry. “There you are hiding in daylight, here we are trying to survive. When you’re near we should run, run, run.”

FROTHY & PUNCHY

Aiding and abetting her on this frothy yet punchy concoction is Kathryn Williams, another equally strong thinking female, her lighter vocal a good harmonic match. And, whilst the deeper subtext may be the go to message to take away, even if you miss that, the infectious ride makes it just a damn fine song to sing along with.

Despite her last album being less than a year behind us, Dressner is back in the studio, already working on her next, with production from Peter Bruntnell. On this showing, it is going to be a belter. But best buy this now. Just in case. And because you can.

Here’s the vid, which is as much fun as the song:

Annie Dressner: Website / Facebook / Instagram / Bluesky

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