CD of The Week

Putting Hotline TNT under the shoegaze umbrella isn’t necessarily wrong but also doesn’t accurately describe what the band is doing, especially on their third full-length album. Starting out as William Anderson being the sole member of the project and recording primarily on GarageBand, stacking huge guitars, low range vocals, and drum programming can make you think this is a shoegaze band. In the vein of Alex G and Car Seat Headrest, Nineteen In Love was self-released as a one-track YouTube video in 2021, gaining Hotline a record deal with Jack White’s Third Man Records. 2023’s Cartwheel saw more critical acclaim, still with only Anderson as the primary member playing everything. Raspberry Moon changes that, adding a full lineup, sleeker production, organic drums, and catchier hooks.

“Julia’s War,” the lead single, is so catchy with its guitar lick and “na-na-na’s” that you can sing along after the first listen. Raspberry Moon starts off almost by accident with guitar noise and Anderson singing “Was I wrong?,” the title of the track. The band doesn’t fully kick in until the second verse and then harmonies glimmer in before the second chorus, creating a crescendo to start off the record and marking a huge big sound. Everything sounds perfectly mixed. “The Scene” is a pure 90’s rock track with its huge guitar chords and quiet bridge, only to then hit you again with huge guitar chords.

This record reminds me of Yuck’s first album and Michigan’s Pity Sex. I wouldn’t say Raspberry Moon is just copying and pasting 90’s indie rock but giving it a place for the modern music lover. “Candle” is another standout and the second single. With the harmonies in the chorus singing “I wanna try, get butterflies” make you fly with fuzzed-out lead guitars gliding you. “Dance the Night Away” changes pace with acoustic guitars and a high piano riff that reminds me of something out of XO by Elliot Smith or late-era Britpop records. The song brings back a fuzzed and filtered high guitar lead in the bridge and big piano chords. It’s a great track in the latter part of the album. The LP ends with “Where U Been?” which might be my favorite song on the record. It starts off with drums and a slow keyboard playing two notes back and forth, then kicks to slow loud leads and big chords on the guitars. It’s a literal change of pace but this makes the record end on an epic slow burn.

Raspberry Moon may be Hotline TNT’s third album but with the introduction of a full band, it's almost a debut. The band is kicking on all cylinders with huge hooks and great production. A definite top five for end-of-year lists in 2025.

Hotline TNT will be in Allentown at Arrow @ Archer Music Hall on July 19th, then in Philadelphia at Johnny Brenda’s on October 12th.