Crush Crusher

“Crush Crusher” Ian Sweet
Jilian Medford’s third album under the name Ian Sweet. Starting as a solo artist on her 2014 debut, Sweet became part of a trio for 2016’s “Shapeshifter,” but is back to being a solo artist once again. The sound is noisy, raw dream-pop and shoegaze with an edge — bordering on art rock at times. The songs are about dealing with relationships, finding yourself and handling anxieties and insecurity.
— Francis

Recommended: 1, 2, 3, 10, 4. FCC on Track 9.

1. (2:36) Hiding — Jangly and light. Airy vocals that end up in the swirling mix as the song builds. Somewhat noisy throughout. ***
2. (3:14) Spit — More aggressive guitar riffs, but still melodic. Alternates between softer and louder parts. **
3. (5:05) Holographic Jesus — Big strumming guitars. Super-high squeezed vocals. Heavy reverb. Discordant. “Built me to shade everybody’s sun.” **
4. (3:22) Bug Museum — Sweet vocals contrast with throaty, rich guitar riffs. **
5. (4:01) Question It — Edgy guitar-driven rock, builds to a chaotic peak. Very noisy and artsy.
6. (4:02) Crush Crusher — Pulsating electronic drumbeats provide the foundation for another woozy, experimental track.
7. (3:15) Falling Fruit — Dark, in-your-face tune about a doomed relationship. Angsty vocals. “Fell for you like a fruit.”
8. (3:21) Borrowed Body — Energetic, up-tempo guitar rock. More traditional, while still having a raw edge.
9. (4:01) Ugly/Bored — Warning: FCC f-cked, multiple times. Harsh and clashy, with some softer moments. ***
10. (5:12) Your Arms Are Water — Lightly tripping, with a nice bounce. Picked guitar, rapid bass, some synth, and snapping drums. More melodic. **