Label: [PIAS]
Released: 29th November 2024
On her debut album ‘bruises’, Sydney’s total tommy (aka Jess Holt) delivers a collection of scuzzy bedroom-rock anthems that feel like reading someone’s diary while they’re sitting right next to you, grinning and occasionally pointing out their favourite parts. It’s an immediately disarming approach that makes even the most vulnerable moments feel like a shared secret rather than an intrusion.
The album crackles with the raw energy of 90s alternative rock filtered through a thoroughly modern lens. Lead single ‘Plus One’ channels Garbage’s chrome-plated swagger into a breathless romp about desire, while ‘SPIDER’ crawls under your skin with its grunge-tinged meditation on codependency.
Throughout ‘bruises’, Holt navigates personal transformation with remarkable candour. The album chronicles a period of seismic change – including a pivotal breakup, relocating cities, coming out as queer, and meeting her now-wife – yet maintains an infectious warmth that makes even the heaviest moments feel buoyant. ‘microdose’ perfectly exemplifies this balance, turning self-discovery into a fist-pumping chorus.
Holt’s charm and genuine vulnerability consistently shine through; her ability to turn personal trials into communal celebration makes ‘bruises’ feel less like a debut and more like reconnecting with an old friend. The result is a remarkably assured first statement.
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