This one has some real variety on it; from experimental pop where the rhythm is set explicitly by the opening tones of a mid-90’s modem negotiation to recreating the sound of 70’s all-girl punk bands to haunting alt-country ballads.
I like it a lot.
“Highway Gothic” by Liz + the Baguettes
Liz + the Baguettes describe themselves on their subvert blurb as:
Post-punk/alt-country with deep roots in Chicago’s storefront theater scene.
I can’t speak to the accuracy of the “storefront theater scene” aspect of that, but post-punk and alt-country are pretty spot-on.
The blurb on this album is:
On their second album, named for the font on interstate signs, the band hits the road, trying in vain to find a home. The songs confront the broken promises of a contemporary America where mass shooters reenact the frontier myth, social media teases with unattainable dreams, and “every road’s a cul-de-sac.”
This tells almost nothing about the actual music, but describes the thematic tone of the album well enough.
Style and genre-wise, though, it wanders pretty widely.
Which is honestly fine; the songs make a coherent set even if the styles vary.
Outstanding tracks:
These three are also good demonstrations that the lyric writing on this album is as good as the music. For example, here’s a quote from “Badlands”:
You’re so fine,
so rarefied.
You look so pretty with the light
shining through the bullet holes.
I can, and have, just set that track on repeat and let it run.
- Music Monday: “Highway Gothic” by Liz + the Baguettes - 2026-11-02
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