In A Whole Nother’s self-titled debut, songs often begin with an indie wispiness. But these musicians are masters of tactical self-interruption, injecting thrashing waterfalls of sound and blazing guitar solos at satisfying moments. In “Out of Time,” grungy riffs are made gentle. Guitarist and songwriter James Kwapisz, previously of Grampfather, lets on to his sludgy roots, but his songwriting with this outfit is more summery. “Beyond the Brooding” is the perfect example of the rock band’s versatility; I count three distinct sections that sound like they could be standalone songs. The tune begins with an indie spindliness, cuts to primal percussion, and ends with a wash of sound with all musicians wailing. Lead singer Lily Moskwa’s sound is touching, like her lullaby lightness on a track like “Ten Thousand Thins,” a gentle swaying waltz. But she’s also fierce, as she navigates intricate melodies, sudden tempo shifts, and akathisic chord changes. “Cell Division,” showcases the band’s comfortability with electronic elements. With its globular electronic rifflings, the track is like what dividing cells might rock out to in a petri dish. A Whole Nother has a whole ’nother sound.
This article appears in June 2026.
