Proper. - “Potential”

SXSW 2024 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 2

Pairs Well With…Militarie Gun, Death Cab For Cutie, Tiny Moving Parts

Punk-pop drowned in post-punk density, Proper. share a moody, intense, and self-referential zone in their eclectic, infectious music. Three full-lengths into their career, Proper.’s latest is the Part-Timer EP, a collection that embellishes the Brooklyn band’s new-wave influences while keeping an emo-rock core. Opening up their sound more to these indie rock sounds balance the band’s more hardcore material, making both sides of the band sound equally critical. Dreamy and aggressive, two styles that shouldn’t normally cross, but are well handled in Proper.’s hands and somehow feel completely natural. While not straightforward ‘pop’, Proper. do have a mind towards accessibility and hooks even when trying to subvert their base genres. Proper. showcase Thursday night at Low Down Lounge. (Kevin McStravick)