For about a month now I’ve been in a bit of a creative rut when it comes to writing to the point I’ve let Brutal lag behind for a bit; my e-mail is buried in dozens of new releases and singles and EPs and remixes and I feel like one of those people on the show Hoarders who just can’t dig their way out. However, in some way, shape, or form the Social Media Algorithm brought me to Sam Quealy who I’ve never heard of before, but whom I’m now grooving to.
I suppose a small intro is in order so I’ll do my best with my limited information and internet searches I did on Quealy. Sam Quealy is a self-described techno-pop princess whose discography traces back to the 2021 single Sad Summer Dance. Ushering in feminist themes into her music Quealy has experienced a shift in her music album to album. In an interview with The Luna Collective, she described her 2023 album Blonde Venus as a “very bad bitch” whilst her 2026 effort is “the bad bitch that’s got feelings”. I can get behind this statement because I, too, also, as well, am a bad bitch.
Jawbreaker is simply a delightful album filled to the brim with addictive synthpop bangers from beginning to end with track lengths that are easily digestible and make me wanna come back for seconds and thirds and even desserts.
Londontown is one of the leading juggernauts on the album with a classic four-on-the-floor rhythm bouncing back and forth between light-hearted choruses and deeper sung verses while other songs on the album such as Pussy Power are hyperpop ballads running a mile a minute – and’ll probably have you running a mile a minute as well. My personal favorite song and the one I most recommend is Strings of Terror. The title itself sounds like it could’ve been an 80s B-action flick and the song itself sounds like it could’ve been the title track to said movie.
This is gonna be a review a bit on the shorter end but, fuck it, at least I was able say something and mention the album and hopefully spread it out to others who’ve never heard of her either. A wonderful diversion from the normally noisy and darker and glitchy side of things on the site. Nevertheless it’s a delightful, fun, and provocative synthpop offering the likes of which I didn’t think I’d find this year. Solid.
