Twerp Verse

Pitchfork 7.4/10 Speedy Ortiz’s third album is wry, acerbic, and full of hidden hooks. The songwriting of singer-guitarist Sadie Dupuis has hit a new peak of clarity.

A.V. Club C Grouper’s Grid Of Points finds the artist at her most vulnerable, while Dr. Dog loses momentum on Critical Equation, and Okkervil River’s In The Rainbow Rain is pretty but a little schmaltzy. These, plus Speedy Ortiz in this week’s notable new releases.

NME 4/5 Speedy Ortiz's third album finds them making sense of turbulent times – but feeling more playful than ever

The Line of Best Fit 7/10 The most listener-friendly and accessible that Speedy Ortiz have ever been.

DIY 4/5 Succinct, wry, and in tune with its context, there’s plenty to unpick.

The Independent 4/5 Rising pop star Anne-Marie releases a debut album jam-packed with infectious, dance-worthy bangers, while Willie Nelson mourns departed friends on ‘Last Man Standing’

The Skinny 3/5 Twerp Verse is a polished, sonically inventive record that’s both playful and punchy, but its purpose feels unclear.

Under The Radar 7.0/10 With the success of their previous album Foil Deer, Speedy Ortiz seemed to conclusively cross over from having been a band beloved by a discerning but rabid relatively few into being a big deal.

Loud and Quiet 7/10 Musically the new album from Speedy Ortiz may have more in common with Sadie Dupuis’ home demos but lyrically its message is all about engagement with the wider world.

Pop Matters 9/10 In emulation of the album itself, let's skip the preamble and get right to the heart of this — Twerp Verse, the third LP from Massachusetts quartet...

Spectrum Culture 60% Lacks the sort of catharsis that Speedy Ortiz really need.