SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: TEETHE – MAGIC OF THE SALE

TEETHE
MAGIC OF THE SALE
WINSPEAR

Texas-based band Teethe takes a huge step forward with their sophomore album, Magic Of The Sale, showing much greater versatility and artistic scope than their 2020 self-titled debut. The band proudly holds its roots in the slow core community, a melancholy alt-rock subgenre popularized in the 1990s. Still, Magic Of The Sale never strictly adheres to genre’s conventions, with fluctuating dynamics that give the record a unique sense of personality. With a number of collaborators from beloved bands, like Wednesday and Hovvdy, this record is a hallmark of the current indie landscape.

Teethe cultivates a magnetic angst on tracks like “Holy Water”. Madeline Dowd’s airy lead vocals complement the noisier guitar parts extremely well. A song like “Build & Crash” also feels refreshingly vibrant, with its groovy flow that swells into several moments of percussive tension. This track is emblematic of Teethe’s ability to subtly shift emotion, by simply adding or taking away sonic elements. Nothing ever feels like it drags on past its welcome.

If we’re talking melancholy, no song is more evocative than “Push You Forever”. Backed by wistful pedal steel, it immediately demands your full attention. Strong melodic phrasings anchor the heaviness of the piece throughout each verse, while the introduction of a second voice provides a hint of tender levity. They reminisce about a porch swing, one which you could easily imagine swaying to the song’s slow tempo. A stunning steel and guitar outro is the final nail in the coffin that makes “Push You Forever” really stick with you.

Other highlights see Teethe play around with all of the different ways that sad can sound. “Ammo” has fun keyboard flourishes and lyrics that express confidence, in spite of the song’s defeated tone. “Hate Goodbyes” uses alternating panned vocals to give its raw sentiment a fantastical feel. And of course, the eponymous single, “Magic Of The Sale”, which develops a haunting grandiosity with its wailing guitars that drop into cellos.

The most desolate moments on this record, including its first and last tracks, are some of the most captivating. Teethe finds ways to add nuance to all the quiet moments. In that way, Magic Of The Sale is like a whisper you can hear crystal clear. It has an intimacy that still manages to keep you on your toes.

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