Chastity Belt

There’s a fine line between sincerity and taking yourself too seriously and yet, Chastity Belt almost entirely avoids crossing that line. While the indie-rock group from Walla Walla, Washington made a name for themselves with the humorous, upbeat grunge of songs like “Cool Slut” and “Joke,” they’ve spent the  past few years honing their craft into something more subdued. Their eponymous fourth record, which was released in September and was co-produced by Jay Som’s Melina Duterte—showcases an airy, downtempo demeanor, matched with the maturing lyricism of lead singer Julia Shapiro. Even a song like “Pissed Pants” which, based on the title alone should be hilarious, is instead a tender rumination on the drawbacks of introspection. The Philadelphia-based band Strange Ranger—which released their second album, Remember the Rockets, on the NC-based label Tiny Engines, in July—opens for the quintet. The band mixes the nostalgic sounds of acts like Built To Spill and The Cure with slights hints of electronic influences. —Sam Haw