Pageant

PWR BTTM made quite an impression when they burst onto the scene with 2015's Ugly Cherries. Their penchant for punchy pop-punk and sartorial sparkle saw them heralded as a beacon for a new wave of queercore. Arriving in 2017, Pageant escapes the limitations of being aligned with a niche area of music, while retaining its spirit. While in true punk tradition none of the tracks tip the three-minute mark, the music avoids subgenre sidelining with incisive pop hooks and addictive riffs. Lead single "Answer My Text" is classic punk-pop, complete with a melodic yet shouty chorus. But Liv Bruce and Ben Hopkins aren't your average pop stars. For a start, their lyrics are a playful mix of acerbic wit and realism, which is a refreshing break from the often lyrically wan and vapid world of pop. Matters of the heart are often dealt with in unsentimental and unequivocal fashion: "Answer my text you dick." And the experience, and difficulties, of being young and queer are dealt a cheeky riposte on "