Tart “Better Luck Next Time” 2020. Romanus Records, very limited edition (50 copies), Pixy Stix filled custom vinyl, “Yes for real, a bajillion pixy stix.” Super-cool vinyl that the photos can’t quite do justice for:

Detroit-based garagey pop-punk. “Like a bag of Sour Patch Kids filled with razor blades, TART gives you the sugary dopamine hit you crave and the bloody aftertaste you weren’t expecting. Zee Bricker’s lashing vocal delivery cuts through Adam and Donny’s pummeling rhythm section like a sharpened switchblade to the jugular. It hurts so good.” – SlyVinyl via Romanus Records. Self-described by singer Bricker as “Sinister shred-pop ‘femmelectro’ new wave.” (from Muzique Magazine who has this to say: “Bricker’s wickedly snarling voice infuses the lyrics with Cruella de Vil timbres”). Tart’s debut LP is raw, femme-forward, raucous, a bit snotty and fun! My top tracks include “Running Yr Mouth,” which is a pissed-off rocker. “Toothache” has a killer beat with slyly hilarious lyrics and the buzzy, grinding guitar on “Around With You” is great. I’m not sure why it’s taken me three + years to get around to this one (I ordered it in October 2020 and probably received it in early ’21 so I suppose I can blame the pandemic for yet another thing). Tart hasn’t been active from what I can tell – their last Instagram past was from 2022 so I think they just kinda fell off my radar. There’s a couple of videos on YouTube but other than that, Tart doesn’t have much of an online presence. The entire album is available to “watch” (listen) here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x9OiXQCGks