The D.C. "scene" isn't what it once was. Or, maybe, it truly is as good as the 80s, and we just romanticize the past. When a band like Pretty Bitter blasts out an album like Pleaser, it's easy to nod toward the present.

Pretty Bitter Pleaser (Tiny Engines)

Pretty Bitter has been gardening on the fringes of the local scene here for a few years, releasing the excellent Hinges in 2022 and one of my favorites of 2024, a split-single (including a "duet") with Flowerbomb. That set showcased each band's strengths and areas of possible growth. It was easy for me to expect great things from this album.

Oh, but then it actually arrived. The sound is rich and textured, adding subtle shadings to the punky power-pop I was expecting. One moment they sound like the Millions (the one from Omaha in the late 80s), and the next they're rocking a tres-modern sound. Then the eruption. If "Outer Heaven Dude Ranch" doesn't transport you, then you've lost your soul.

Pretty Bitter takes on all topics and sounds, incorporating their ideas into an inclusive, swirling, throbbing wonder. Few bands are able to follow all of these sonic avenues over an entire career. The offhanded confidence of the band as it seemingly effortlessly shapes these songs is thrilling to behold. Power pop has always been that "alternative" thing, and this album is likely no different. But few have the ambition and ability shown on this set. To call this Pleaser might be the understatement of the year. As it is, I'm fairly certain I haven't heard anything nearly this good in months. Something spectacular.

Jon Worley