Summer Cannibals' "Say My Name" Is Both a Punch and a Sweet Caress

Listening to Summer Cannibals’ ‘"Say My Name" is like being caressed on the cheek by the same person that just knocked you out and left you on the sidewalk. If that person had just punched you square in the face, I mean, and left the bouncer to deal with it, and just as they were about to walk away they turned back, looked down at your newly-swollen face, and just started stroking it and telling you it was the best punch ever, you know it was the best punch ever, don’t pretend it wasn’t.

According to frontwoman Jessica Boudreaux, "Say My Name" the most poppy song on the band’s second LP, Full of It, out May 27. It’s a hopeful, melodic love song in the midst of a record “about the frustration and anger that comes with the decline of a relationship"—feelings that came through loud and clear on the thrashing, chugging album opener "Go Home." There are shades of late 90s Sleater-Kinney in the loud-quiet-loud of it all, not least in Boudreaux’s voice, snarling at all the right moments. The decision to work with Chris Woodhouse (Wild Flag, Thee Oh Sees) on the record seems to be pushing the band into new, more outspoken territory, too. There has been nothing equivocal on "Go Home" or "Say My Name."

To top it all, Full of It will be released on Kill Rock Stars on May 27th—the perfect home for the Portland band. It’s hard to imagine them anywhere else—these people brought us Quasi and Bratmobile. It also means they’ll be touring the States with new label buddies The Thermals. Obviously, go to that.

You can hear "Say My Name" right here, beneath these words.

Summer Cannibals Tour Dates

4/16: Spokane, WA @ The Bartlett

4/19: Minneapolis, MN @ Turf Club

4/20: Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall

4/21: Ann Arbor, MI @ Blind Pig

4/22: Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop

4/24: New York, NY @ Bowery

4/25: Boston, MA @ The Sinclair

4/26: Providence, RI @ Columbus Theater

4/28: Brooklyn, NY @ Market Hotel

4/29: Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer

4/30: Washington, DC @ Black Cat

5/1: Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Cafe

5/3: Indianapolis, IN @ Hi-Fi

5/4: Paducah, KY @ Maiden Alley Cinema

5/5: St. Louis, MO @ The Firebird

5/6: Omaha, NE @ Slowdown

5/7: Denver, CO @ Lost Lake

5/8: Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge

5/13: Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom

5/14: Eugene, OR @ HiFi Music Hall

5/15: Arcata, CA @ Richard's Goat

5/17: San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel

5/19: Los Angeles, A @ Teragram Ballroom

5/20: San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar

Alex Ross is a Brit abroad but he seems to be assimilating quite seamlessly. Follow him on Twitter.