Sorry Holly

Portland, Oregon-based post-punk trio Sorry Holly just released the debut full-length album, entitled Use Your Heart. Over a decade in the making due to life getting in the way, the album features 12 tracks spanning alt-rock, post-punk, and post-hardcore influences and styles, with sounds and themes sure to stir up memories of old anxiety attacks and past loves. 

The debut album Use Your Heart is a dedication to lost loves and forgotten friends,” says the band of the new collection of songs. “A sonic wave of emo noise with an energetic live show to match. Sorry Holly is ready to give you a demonstration in poetic rock and roll justice.

Use Your Heart kicks off with “Earth Tones and Pastels,” a fuzzy, alternative track with a heavy shoegaze feel and an abundance of melody. With the stellar Deftones-style guitar riffs, it’s a fantastic way to start the album. Another standout track, “Dental” has a sound that is somewhat reminiscent of The Smiths in their prime (as does “Tenderly, Lovingly,” which is a song that shows up a little later in the album), with a vibe that melds the best parts of the ’80s and more modern wall-of-sound styles. For energy, catchiness, and an in-your-face sound, look no further than “Hell Is Paved”–it’s a huge song, and one of my personal favourites from the album. Equally explosive, “SJC” is a bold two-minute sonic bomb packed with energy and infectiousness. The album’s title track, “Use Your Heart,” has a mellow, emotional feel, and is the perfect way to close out an exceptional album. 

Overall, Sorry Holly have crafted a sound that mixes a wide and impressive array of influences and genres, but put their own unique spin on it. Use Your Heart is a remarkable blend of it all, adding raw emotion, relatable themes, and a balance of hard-hitting styles and melancholy melodies. It’s well-worth a listen from start to finish.

Stream Use Your Heart by Sorry Holly on your preferred platform:
Spotify / Bandcamp / Apple Music

Follow Sorry Holly on Instagram