I Wish I Wish I Wish

The Joy Formidable “Cradle”

It’s just about impossible to watch the video for this song without getting the impression that it’s a lost hit from 120 Minutes circa 1994, or something from an alternate Earth where female-fronted alt-rock thrives as a dominant genre. Nevertheless, “Cradle” sounds remarkably fresh for a ’90s throwback, thanks in large part to its brisk momentum. Even when the song seems to take a moment to breathe, the pace is quick, and the emotions come hard and fast enough to overwhelm the words. I’ve heard this tune many times over now, but I’m not quite sure what Ritzy Bryan is trying to say — half her lyrics are obscured, and every time I try to pay close attention, I get lost in the sound. It hardly matters. This is effervescent, highly potent stuff, and it makes me feel excited about life, even when nothing is going on.

Buy it from The Joy Formidable.