Laura Stevenson may have spent some time as a member of Bomb the Music Industry!, but other than her fiercely D.I.Y. approach to her solo music, she didn’t inherit all of that band’s ethos. Jeff Rosenstock, BtMI!’s sole consistent member, is famously restless, a talented musician and producer who spends nearly all of his time putting out songs, forming new bands and producing friends’ records. Stevenson, on the other hand, seems to be more of a perfectionist.
Whereas BtMI! put out eight records in five years, Stevenson has released just four, and the Long Island native has become more assured with each one. 2013’s Wheel was near flawless, a brilliant, inventive pop record that would have turned her into a household name on a larger label. But Stevenson, who’s signed to Don Giovanni Records, seems to thrive in the smaller setting.
That being said, she could have used more of a push on this year’s Cocksure. While it’s quite similar to Wheel, showcasing her attention to detail and Counting Crows-goes-pop-punk sound, it’s also slightly lacking in the hushed introspection that made that record stand out.
Cocksure is much more rock-centric than anything Stevenson has done before, taking heavy influence from ’90s alt-rock, and songs like “Torch Song,” “Emily in Half” and “Claustrophobe” are all tailor-made for 120 Minutes. But Stevenson’s at her best when her voice is at the forefront, and as enjoyable as these songs are, their louder backing tracks undercut it.
Laura Stevenson’s perfectionism may have gotten her and her catalog of well-crafted songs this far, but a little of Jeff Rosenstock’s “throw-everything-at-the-wall-and-see-if-it-sticks” mentality couldn’t hurt Cocksure.