Artist: On Being an Angel
Song: “Playin’ it Cool”
Album: TBA
Label: American Laundromat Records
Genre: Indie Rock, Bubble Grunge
Formed in Austin in 2019, On Being an Angel have built a brand on meshing pop melodies with fuzz guitars and early 90’s grunge aesthetic. They throw out crunchy, spacious melodies with slacker vibes with a casual ease, while inserting syrupy solos that bring to mind groups like Dinosaur Jr. at their catchiest. Listen to their latest single “Playin’ it Cool” and it’s all there for you.
The song sounds like what your best friend’s older sister’s band was jamming out in a basement in the 90’s, and it was secretly the reason you always wanted to go over to their house; just to sit at the top of the stairs and listen in, knowing you were hearing something special even if you couldn’t put your finger on it. Lines like “Why can’t I get it through my head? Think I’d be better off dead then have to explain it to you.” are sung with a relatable sweetness that make the band’s frontwoman sound more like your close friend than bitter ex. They exude truly exude a “cool” in their sound, and play it with an unflashy zeal.
Don’t take my word for it – check out “Playin’ it Cool” in our Check This 2023 playlist!
The Indy Review 