Answer My Text - By PWRBTTM
*DISCLAIMER* this article was written before the sexual abuse allegations against PWR BTTM's Ben Hopkins. Tune-jam does NOT condone abuse in any shapes, sizes, or forms.
TITLE: Answer My Text
ARTIST: PWR BTTM
GENRE: Punk Rock / Garage
MOOD: Fun / Queer / Empowering
SIMILAR TO: Diet Cig, Bully, Adult Mom
RELEASE DATE: March 7th, 2017
PWR BTTM’s newly released single on their upcoming album explores the universal experience of when a guy doesn’t text you back immediately, even though you know that he’s probably been glued to his phone all day. If you aren’t familiar with the band, they’re a punk duo act that primarily creates queercore music. The two main members include Liv Bruce, a trans pisces with a snarky attitude, and Ben Hopkins, who is the very definition of glitter punk. Their acts commonly feature long dresses, tacky jewelry, flawless makeup from Liv, and Ben with glitter smeared all over his face. In a previous interview, the duo revealed that one of them usually sings the song that they write themselves, with the other accompanying on background instruments. Since both of them are multitalented in vocals, guitar, and drums, it enables a versatility that lets them swap instruments around-- which allows this song and music video to mostly feature Liv.
“Answer My Text” is similar to the rest of their songs in the sense that it’s all 2000 garage pop, teenage dirtbag vibes. The just-released music video starts with Liv looking at the camera in a pink room strewn with fuzzy orange pillows and neon stuffed animals. In the background there’s a pink flamingo, a poster of some tits, and a glittery, holographic Ben dancing in a tiny fuchsia television set. In a lot of ways, this room represents the essence of the band; they’re feminine, happy, and utterly, authentically themselves. With a limited amount of queer representation in the punk and alternative music scene, PWR BTTM just becomes even more important and good.
Like always, the song is a storm. Ben displays his musical prowess not only by harshly beating the drums, but also by pulling off incredible shredding and playing riffs with harmonics and slides like it’s easy. There was not one moment where I wasn’t blown away. In one of the most relatable lyrics ever written, Liv sings, “But then you left again and I just felt confused and nerdy / My teenage angst will be with me well into my thirties” before finally shouting “Answer my text you DICK!” in the catchy chorus. It’s unashamedly fun and cute, with typical math rock sounds introduced in a pop setting. While maintaining Ben’s fun and goofy goodnature, Liv is obviously ready to stomp on some hearts. It’s messy and exaggerated and radical, but when you’re looking at them sing, you kind of wonder who the hell wouldn’t answer their texts.