University

Bandleader Kristin Hersh’s anguished singing and searing guitar lines goad drummer Frank Narcizo and bassist Bernard Georges through this set of melodic-yet-spiky tunes. One of the group’s most consistent efforts, *University* plunges the listener into dissonant emotional landscapes at once unnerving and seductive. “Bright Yellow Gun” and “Shimmer” churn and snarl ferociously, betraying hints of Jefferson Airplane-esque folk-rock. “Calm Down, Come Down” flows to a credibly funky bassline, providing contrast to atmospheric brood-fests like “Teller” and volcanic thrashers like “Start.” Hersh peels off layer after layer of mental protection in these tracks, veering from revelatory self-portraits (“No Way in Hell”) to snapshots of personal demons (“Snakeface”). If the lyrics trace disintegrating states of being, the music here is tight and scalpel-sharp. The band’s self-production is bold and direct, showcasing some distinctive flourishes, such as Hersh’s newfound affection for wah-wah guitar. Angular, angst-ridden and oddly cathartic, *University* proves that pleasure *can* be extracted from well-channeled torment.

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