New Release: Lucky For You from Bully (Sub Pop)

The evolution of Alicia Bognanno from band member into solo artist has been revealing. A Minnesota native relocated to Nashville, Bognanno began her journey in music as an audio engineer, eventually forming Bully ten years ago. The Bully EP was released the same year. From that came a record deal and the first LP Feels Like in 2015. As her fanbase continues to grow over the past decade, her confidence has expanded exponentially. On the new release Lucky For You, Bognanno has created her most mature, balanced, and personal record to date.

Lucky was a catharsis resulting from Bognanno stopping the drink as well as losing her loving dog Mezzi. Anyone paying attention to her social media presence over the past few years is no doubt familiar with Mezzi. As life did a 180, Bognanno used it to her advantage, creating her most solid album of her career. Grief, loss, and change has produced a wonderful set of 10 songs propelling Bully to the next level.

The singer’s whisper-to-a-scream vocals serve her well for the band’s oft-labeled alternative/grunge/punk/indie sound. Connections to Kurt Cobain notwithstanding, Bully did cover “About a Girl” in 2020 and it was glorious (bets are off that she is the reincarnation of Cobain, as she was a three-year-old when we lost the Nirvana singer). The first single off the new album is the solid “Days Move Slow,” the first tune she wrote after the loss of her canine companion. Behind a wall of guitars and soaring vocals, Bognanno reminisces, “I’m living in the same black hole / But there’s flowers on your grave that grow / Somethings gotta change, I know.” Whatever may constitute a “hit” in 2023, this is it.

With our front row seat to her parade of self-doubts and ego-crushing couple of years, Bognanno confides she’s too “Hard to Love.” With its explosive chorus, she almost convinces us…but what’s not to love? This album gets better with every listen, much like an astonishing sunrise that keeps surprising you. The fantastic “Lose You” featuring fellow Nashvillian Soccer Mommy (Sophie Allison) is a fan favorite and rightly so. It imbues everything great about Alicia, with a shot of melodic pop.

“Change Your Mind,” “How Will I Know,” and “Ms. America” also possess that gritty pop feel, representing the musical culture and landscape of Lucky‘s sound. Bognanno has kept her punk sensibilities intact while delivering melodies sure to entice fans.

As the sole creator for Bully, Bognanno is the singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Not bad for such a young artist with four full-lengths under her belt. Not one to shy away from politics, Bognanno uses her increasing fame for good, speaking out on important social issues. On “All This Noise,” she takes on climate change, America’s gun problem, and women’s rights – all in one powerful song:

Jesus won’t save the polar bears or halt the melting ice
But he’ll give you an excuse to shame and take our bodies rights
There’s an AR-15 in your house it’s got one job to do
It’s to quickly kill as many things that you want it to
But god forbid we take action to keep our children safe
As our ego stands in center stage another life it takes

And I’m tired
Of waiting
For change and debating

I can’t handle all this noise
My body is not your choice
There’s no glory to be found
America’s been burning down

Another factor in the sound and approach to Lucky may be due to the expert production from musician and visual artist J.T. Daly (Paper Route). From her Bandcamp page, Bognanno recalls, “…I could tell he was a genuine fan who wanted to emphasize what’s actually good about my writing instead of changing it. I could tell how much he cared about the project, and it meant a lot to me.” 

Music is at its best when honest. Bognanno has delivered just such an album. Listen for yourself. Catch Bully on tour this summer with Pixies and Franz Ferdinand. Visit Bully’s website for more information. Listen to and buy Lucky For You at Bandcamp.

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