Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers won’t sit still except when they have to. Their newest single, “Dull,” represents a calculated bold step for the band, not just as their first release under the Mom + Pop Music label but as an unvarnished response to emotional stagnation. Featuring the Canadian “riotgaze” twins Softcult, “Dull” is a grunge-soaked reflection on losing yourself, delivered through the band’s characteristic cocktail of warmth, melody, and razor-sharp angst.
"Dull” is sonically anything but. A slinky bassline snakes beneath a haze of gritty guitar work and neat percussion, creating a framework for Anna Ryan’s brooding but spellbinding vocals. “Dull” emotional weight is palpable as Ryan admits, “Hands on me and I’ve had enough I can’t breathe under your touch,” capturing the all-too-relatable sensation of being run out of energy, be it from a person, a passion, or life itself. As “Dull” swells, the lyrics dig even more profound. “Hey, don’t you know That you had such a big effect on me? I lost my spark. Guess I’m not what you thought I’d be.” It’s an intense awakening, served with a conviction that sticks around well beyond the last note.
Continuing the thematic thread of their previous single, “I Used To Be Fun,” “Dull” trades escapism for introspection, demonstrating that Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers are unafraid to wade into the discomfort of self-examination. “Dull” is a tribute to the beauty of vulnerability shrouded in the fuzzed-out, anthemic grit that makes this band an unavoidable ear infection.