On Modern Female Rockstar, the band’s proper debut for Take This to Heart Records, lead singer Willow Hawks, assures her listener base that the ukulele isn’t the product of a cutesy bygone era, it’s a weapon in a battle to be taken seriously in a male-dominated scene. The band recorded Modern Female Rockstar with Steve Perrino and Madeline Finn to accomplish a tone that complements Hawks’ soulful tones and her most biting criticism. Opener “Atom†underscores this duality—vocal control soars to aggressive highs, with her melody splitting apart to shout and howl against a selfish convenience friend. Lead single “Title†features the LP’s most acerbic thesis statement, with the arrangement bending behind Hawks’ proclamation: “I don’t want to be your merch girl / I wanna be your goddamn idol / And I don’t wanna have to work twice as hard / For the same motherfucking title.†For these Midwestern upstarts, self-confidence starts when it crosses paths with self-analysis. The Sonder Bombs’ first proper outing already barrels full speed ahead, defining a new era of socially conscious, unapologetic pop punk. Being pressed to vinyl for the first time a year after the initial release, The Sonder Bombs’ Modern Female Rockstar is pushing into retail with a limted edition Translucent Purple Vinyl Variant.
