Model/Actriz - Dogsbody

Post-punk has made a strong resurgence of late. 

On some other occasion, I’ll list out some of the great post-punk records from the last few years here so I can better commit them to memory: Squid’s Bright Green World and the song Houseplants, Wet Leg’s self-titled records, Dry Cleaning’s New Long Leg and particularly the album opener Scratchcard Lanyard, others. 

I think Dogsbody by Model/Actriz was the best post-punk record in 2023 and Crossing Guard was the year’s best post-punk song, with the only close competition coming from Sleaford Mods, who released both UK GRIM and their cover of the Pet Shop Boys’ West End Girls last year.

My favourite moment in the record? The transition from Crossing Guard to Slate.

It’s the sort of moment that makes the album an artform that’s distinct from a song or a single or an EP. None of those can contain a moment like that transition. A well-arranged album is a three-act play, and transitions like that one mark the end of act one.