Today, Alex G announced his ninth studio album God Save the Animals, which is out September 23 via Domino. The news comes with the new single "Runner" and a video directed by Aldo Fisk. The Philadelphia singer, songwriter, and producer recently composed the soundtrack for the horror film We're All Going to the World's Fair in addition to releasing another single listed on the new project's track list (not to mention debuting an incredible dance number for it). God Save the Animals is the official follow-up to 2019's House of Sugar.
"Runner" opens with bluesy, blunt guitar and scattered piano notes that fall into place once an acoustic guitar and drums saunter in. "I like people who I can open up to," G sings on the opening line. "You don't judge me for what I say, but judge me for what I do." What a line! "Runner" hits the sweet spot of comforting rock that envelops you. But Giannascoli still manages to play a bit with subtly modified vocals and an unexpected squeal.
The accompanying video features Giannascoli and his band dressed in an early Renaissance color palette with warmer tones and muted blues and greens. Once the camera pans out, the group nearly looks like the Last Supper of indie rockers. That halo glow in the video might nod to the general spiritual themes on the upcoming album. The press release for the LP states: "'God' figures in the LP’s title and multiple of its thirteen tracks, not as a concrete religious entity but as a sign for a generalized sense of faith (in something, anything) that fortifies Giannascoli, or the characters he voices, amid the songs’ often fraught situations."
Check out the video for "Runner" below, and pre-order God Save the Animals here.
