Do we really deserve a collaborative release from Slumberland and Skep Wax? Two labels with impeccable track records when it comes to underground pop—the kind of labels that have always championed bands who know their way around a hook, a jangle, and a heartache. Skep Wax is the relatively new imprint run by indie legends Amelia Fletcher and Rob Pursey (make sure to check out our Gimme 5 feature with them), while Slumberland has been holding it down for decades, still proving that indie pop, twee, and C86 is a sound that refuses to die quietly.

Which brings us to Jeanines. That’s Alicia Jeanine and Jed Smith (also of Mick Trouble and My Teenage Stride fame), a duo whose music seems custom-built for fans of short, sweet, and emotionally potent pop songs. Side note: if you call your band Jeanines, I firmly believe you should go Ramones with the last names. I am looking at you Jed!

Okay, where were we. Oh yeah, if you know Jeanines, you already know the deal: high-pitched harmonies, strummy guitars, lo-fi charm, and a knack for fitting a lifetime of feelings into under two minutes. They’re not changing the formula on How Long Can It Last, but somehow they’ve made everything sound better—crisper, catchier, and just a little deeper.

The title asks a question (even without the question mark), and the answer, if we’re lucky, is “for a good while longer.” How Long Can It Last is a thoroughly enjoyable record full of scrappy, heartfelt tunes—tiny songs packed with major feelings. It is the best Jeanines LP yet, and I can’t stop playing it.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Slumberland