Gully Boys - "New Song No. 2" | New Music

(Album art by Jacob Allers-Hatlie)

Not many bands or artists can blow up the internet with a 15-second video clip. Beyoncé, probably? MCR, sort of? Gully Boys, definitely. When the inimitable trio put out a teaser for their new song (aptly titled "New Song No. 2") about a week ago, it was literally all that anyone in the Twin Cities music scene talked about. And rightfully so. They reinvent the boy band in a way that no one else could.

Taken from their forthcoming EP Phony, "New Song No. 2" focuses on everything that has made Gully Boys great and unleashes it. Their sound has always been a blender of alternative and indie rock influences, but this new one edges into pop territory. It's pop and punk, but it's not pop-punk — it's a more pure combination than that (ponk? punp?). The emphasis of the vocals unifies the trio into a singular unit of musical astonishment. Kathy's melodies are too catchy and fantastic to be entirely rooted in the anti-pop of most of alt-rock, but her voice is flecked with its trademark grit as she wails the chorus. It's music that demands to have people sing it back, as I'm sure fans will at the band's month-long residency at the Entry.

(Video shot by Dave Underhill and Daniel Lindsay)

However, the moment that truly blew me away comes about two-thirds of the way in. Almost everything drops away, and Nadirah sings the song's mantra - "waste my time" - over and over again. Then, Natalie stacks her harmonies on top. Kathy rounds out the chord as the music ramps back up until all three are screaming in cathartic unison. It's an unexpected moment of whole-hearted wonder. If the entire song was just this 30-second bit, it would still be one of my favorite Gully Boys songs.

Each new tune that the Boys come out with immediately enters itself into the competition for "best local song of the year," if not "best song of the year in the whole world." Even if Phony doesn't include "Little Brother," the great song Gully Boys put out on a split with niiice., it will still be a defining moment in the band's career and the Minneapolis scene.

All of that said, let's briefly address the video: it is perfect. Oh, you disagree? We'll fight you in the parking lot behind First Ave. RIGHT. NOW. Directed by Maria Davidson, the clip references an abundance of iconic videos ("Smells Like Teen Spirit," "Bohemian Rhapsody, and "Help!" among others) from previous decades. But, by inserting themselves as the Gully Boys, not just over-the-top cameos of the past, they lay claim to a heritage that is no longer reserved. It's ripe for the taking, and the Boys go for it. At this rate, they'll be up for a Video Vanguard award in no time at all. Watch (and listen to) the masterpiece that is "New Song No. 2" below. Buy the track here. Phony will be out Dec. 20, 2019.