Most people didn’t know Hop Along back when they were the solo project of vocalist/guitarist Frances Quinlan, releasing a bizarro anti-folk debut under the moniker Hop Along, Queen Ansleis over a decade ago. Regardless, today Quinlan is writing a revisionist history of her solo career with the news of her first LP under her own name.
Likewise will be the Philly-based songwriter’s first release post-full-band, repurposing her unmistakable vocals over electronic beats and flourishes, as heard on lead single “Rare Thing.” With “synthesizers, digital beats, harps, strings, and a wide variety of keyboards” promised throughout the record, the album—produced by bandmate Joe Reinhart—promises plenty of left turns from the indie-pop bandleader.
“Working with Joe on this made me able to better see that the guitar is just one vehicle…there are so many others to explore,” she notes in a press release. It’ll be interesting to see how this shift from guitars influences the album closer, which is a cover of Built to Spill’s “Carry the Zero.”
Likewise is out January 31 via Saddle Creek, and you can pre-order it here. Sample “Rare Thing” below, and read on for a handful of 2020 headlining tour dates.
Tour Dates:
01/19/20 – Chicago, IL @ Tomorrow Never Knows Festival at Sleeping Village
03/01/20 – San Francisco, CA @ Noise Pop at Swedish American Music Hall
03/03/20 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir
03/05/20 – Seattle, WA @ Columbia City Theater
03/12/20 – Los Angeles, CA @ Pico Union Project
03/14/20 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah