ALBUM: Chastity Belt 'Time to Go Home'

After the unexpected success of their debut album No Regerts, Chastity Belt – four friends who met in a tiny college town in Eastern Washington, before reconnecting in Washington – are back with their new album, Time to Go Home.

The girls (guitarists Julia Shapiro and Lydia Lund, bassist Annie Truscott, and drummer Gretchen Grimm) seem to have truly found their sound in this album; whilst the influences from a college town audience are still definitely present, Time to Go Home sees Chastity Belt rebuilt, and truly come into their own.

The album is essentially the embodiment of 80s/90s films: from the empowering feminism of ‘Cool Slut’ – “We’re just a couple of sluts… ladies, it’s okay to be slutty” – to the teenage disaffection of ‘Why Try’ and ‘On The Floor’, the band pair Shapiro’s lyrics and nonchalant vocals with the sugary-sweet instrumentation and grounded drumming from Grimm. Think Pretty in Pink, Heathers, and 10 Things I Hate About You; Chastity Belt are something every girl can associate with, and will no doubt love.

There’s a truly fascinating grittiness to Chastity Belt; after the hazy ending to ‘On The Floor’, the band kick straight back with full force with ‘The Thing’, and this time the rest of the band lose the sweetness to match Shapiro. Screaming “everyone’s infected” over the unapologetic storm coming from Grimm, Lund and Truscott, ‘The Thing’ is significantly shorter than most of the songs on the album. The haziness is replaced by short, sudden impact, and it works. ‘The Thing’ sticks, like the best angry punk songs, and will have you tunelessly shouting along with it for hours.

With songs like ‘Lydia’ and ‘IDC’, Chastity Belt prove themselves to be exactly what girls need – the older sister who’s been through nights being “drunk and confused” and will teach you not to care. Thankfully, they also manage to do it will making fucking good music. Finishing with ‘Time to Go Home’, one last life lesson on spinning rooms and blurry eyesight, Chastity Belt – despite the tales of intoxication – polish the album off on a flawlessly executed ending. It leaves you feeling drunk and confused, yet simultaneously a thousand times more aware. If you’re looking for the perfect feminist role model, look no further. This is the kind of album that should be given to every girl on her 13th birthday.

Time To Go Home is out 11 May via Hardly Art. It’s an essential listen.

Melissa Svensen
@MelYeaahh