Frances Quinlan - “Rare Thing”

SXSW 2020 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 4

Pairs Well With…Girlpool, Weyes Blood, Hop Along

Hop Along’s Frances Quinlan is set to release her debut solo record Likewise at the end of the month and it’s looking to be an explorative, personal album judging from its early singles. “Rare Thing” is a tender love song wrapped in production that bridges minimalism and cinematic touches cleverly. It’s an approach that is consistent even across different forms - “Now That I’m Back” is more pained with jazzy inflection, only to twist into a pulsing electro-rock groover on a dime. Quinlan is somehow pulling off both less and more at the same time, letting what could have been a little bedroom pop record into something subtly adventurous and sonically interesting. “Your Reply” finds space in between, a breezy acoustic pop number with a twist of alt country songwriting - it’s rewarding to see how far Quinlan is stretching from Hop Along’s grunge-pop core. (Kevin McStravick)