Negative Qualities

In describing Single Mothers, the U.K. paper *The Guardian* said to “imagine The Hold Steady as a hardcore punk band”—and it *is* hard to hear Single Mothers’ singer Drew Thomson rambling through “Half-Lit” and “Feel Shame” without thinking of The Hold Steady’s Craig Finn. However, unlike Thomson, Finn would never proclaim “If this is living the dream, just kill me.” These London, Ontario–based punks take the usual punk schematic of loud, daring tempos and in 23 minutes deliver 10 songs that take nihilism to such extremes it’s hilarious. If you thought Black Flag went soft after *Damaged*, *Negative Qualities* will right the course.

Debut hit* record

Canadian post-hardcore rabble-rousers Single Mothers' debut LP might be 2014's most aptly-titled album. An airing of grievances in full-length form, Negative Qualities takes all comers: from starry-eyed barflies to farmer's market-shopping Saturn drivers, nobody comes out of Negative Qualities looking too hot.

This is not a problem that troubles Drew Thomson; as the frontman with London, Ontario-based punks Single Mothers, Thomson doesn't sing so much as he rants, letting loose with a red-throated spray of invective as he goes off like a smart, bitter guy who has just finished his fifth cup of coffee and is about to tell anyone within earshot just how he feels.

Review of Single Mothers' 'Negative Qualities' out October 6th on XL Recordings and Hot Charity the first single from 'Negative Qualities' is "Marbles"