As the year draws to a close, the avalanche of new music slows down a bit – a good moment to pay attention to wantlist-worthy releases that we somehow overlooked. Like the sophomore LP The Problem With Fun by Cincinnati quartet Sorry Eric, available since last October. The title gives away what you can expect; the band members have learned from experience. Songwriter Eric Dietrich (vocals, guitar, wind synth), Christina Cahalane (drums, vocals), Brian McCabe (bass) and Nick Ruma (guitar) play sharp indie rock with driving guitars and clever but dark lyrics, delivered with conviction and sincerity. The 10 songs here are engaging and at times surprising, but need a few spins to win you over.
The Problem With Fun is out now digitally and on vinyl LP through Happy Families.
Add to wantlist: Bandcamp (you can listen to 3 tracks there; the full album can be found on the streaming services).