Weird Nightmare – Hoopla

Weird Nightmare’s second album, Hoopla is a bright, fuzzed-out triumph of guitar-pop songwriting. Alex Edkins, best known as the frontman of noise-rock bruisers METZ, takes a more melodic route here, but he never abandons the crunch and urgency that give these songs their bite.

Power Pop Punch & Jangle

Opener “Headful of Rain” kicks in with fuzzy guitars and punchy drums. “Might See You There” and “Never in Style” jangle with bar-chord drive and power pop sensibility. “Pay No Mind” snarls; “Little Strange” punches like Buzzcocks-punk-pop. Layer the vocals a bit more and “If You Should Turn Away” sounds almost like a Searchers song.

The arrangements are lean, the hooks hit hard, and the performances sound viceral rather than over-polished. Beneath the sunny melodies, there is a subtle tension involving alienation, changing places, and modern distraction, giving the album emotional weight.

Get Your Copy Here

At roughly thirty-four minutes, Hoopla leaves before its welcome wears thin. It’s short, hook-heavy, and easy to replay. A summer record that still works in September. Get your copy at Bandcamp (CD or digital) or Amazon Music (Vinyl).