Back in 2021, Speedy Ortiz released The Death of Speedy Ortiz & Cop Kicker…Forever, a compilation of the band's first two releases in celebration of their 10th anniversary. They've been pretty quiet since then (their last full length as a band was 2018's Twerp Verse), but that changes today with "Scabs," the four-piece's first new single in five years.
The song features backing vocals from Illuminati Hotties' Sarah Tudzin, who co-produced the track. It's a dense, tightly wound bundle of needling guitar pop that finds frontperson Sadie Dupuis calling out picket line-crossers and virtue-signalling jerks.
"Who do you wanna prove you're a big dog to? / You turn the screw, but you're using the wrong size tool," she sings over a topsy-turvy rhythm.
"Living in progressive cities and working in the arts, you meet peers doing tremendous organizing work. And then there are neighbours who signal their 'good' politics through yard signs alone," said Dupuis in a statement about the song. "I wrote 'Scabs' standing in line at the post office, overhearing customers berate a USPS employee. This was during a time of postal unions-opposed budget cuts and other major issues for mail handlers, which were widely reported on. People advertising their support for essential workers acted conversely when faced with personal inconvenience. The song became more widely about self-designated ethicists who don't quibble about crossing a picket line for individual benefit."
Dupuis last released a solo album as Sad13 in 2020 with Haunted Painting. Last year, she released the poetry book Cry Perfume.
Check out "Scabs" below.
The song features backing vocals from Illuminati Hotties' Sarah Tudzin, who co-produced the track. It's a dense, tightly wound bundle of needling guitar pop that finds frontperson Sadie Dupuis calling out picket line-crossers and virtue-signalling jerks.
"Who do you wanna prove you're a big dog to? / You turn the screw, but you're using the wrong size tool," she sings over a topsy-turvy rhythm.
"Living in progressive cities and working in the arts, you meet peers doing tremendous organizing work. And then there are neighbours who signal their 'good' politics through yard signs alone," said Dupuis in a statement about the song. "I wrote 'Scabs' standing in line at the post office, overhearing customers berate a USPS employee. This was during a time of postal unions-opposed budget cuts and other major issues for mail handlers, which were widely reported on. People advertising their support for essential workers acted conversely when faced with personal inconvenience. The song became more widely about self-designated ethicists who don't quibble about crossing a picket line for individual benefit."
Dupuis last released a solo album as Sad13 in 2020 with Haunted Painting. Last year, she released the poetry book Cry Perfume.
Check out "Scabs" below.