Slow Pulp Release Third Album 'Melodie,' and the Reviews Are Mixed
American indie rock four-piece Slow Pulp released their third album, Melodie, on Friday, September 18, 2026. The record was produced by Elliott Kozel and released through Anti Records. It's the band's latest work since forming in 2015, following three EPs and two prior albums, and centers on heartbreak and emotional lows. UK outlet Far Out Magazine gave the album 2.5 out of 5 stars, singling out lead single "Better Man" as the record's highlight.
Release details
- Album: Melodie (third studio album)
- Release date: September 18, 2026 (Friday)
- Producer: Elliott Kozel
- Label: Anti Records
- Far Out Magazine score: 2.5/5
What the review says
Far Out's review notes that Melodie opens with the slow-paced "Yellow and Green," followed by the similarly nostalgic and downcast "These Days" — tracks the review says singer Emily Massey's voice doesn't quite carry through their quieter, more meandering structure. The review argues the album's new production direction and its heartbreak-centered themes dilute the unpolished character that defined the band's earlier work.
The three tracks singled out as highlights sit in the album's middle stretch. Lead single "Better Man" builds around driving guitar and melodic bell tones, with lyrics written by guitarist Henry Stoehr that the review calls direct and intimate. The title track "Melodie" returns to a punkier side of the band. "Red Car" is described as a road-trip-ready indie pop cut, with the review drawing comparisons to Soccer Mommy, Wallows, and Momma.
Later in the record, Massey turns in a more heartbroken performance on "Up to You," though the band leans into more acoustic arrangements overall; closer "Slip Away" is described as fading out rather than building to a climax. The review's conclusion: two or three strong indie pop songs aren't enough to sustain an album that otherwise repeats the same tone.
From EPs to a third album
Since forming in 2015, Slow Pulp built a Midwest indie rock identity across three EPs — marked by murky shoegaze textures, pop-leaning hooks, and lo-fi production. Their first two albums, Moveys and Yard, produced standout tracks like "Falling Apart" and "Cramps," while early EP cut "High" dealt with drugs and emotional turmoil.
Far Out's review situates Melodie within that trajectory, arguing that while the band previously carved out a distinct voice in a saturated American indie rock landscape, this album's production choices and narrower thematic focus bring it closer to genre convention.