Kat and The Hurricane Get Out their debut record.

Madison, WI's Kat and The Hurricane have released debut album Got it Out independently on the day you're reading this. This is an all-queer band who has built a strong community following playing shows over the last seven years. I myself don't have a pre-existing relationship with Kat and The Hurricane but I'm always looking forward to absorbing new queer art.

The three piece understand the assignment they've set for themselves here in terms of sonics. Opening track "Therapy" starts on a low-key synth and vocal piece immediately repeated with the full band treatment. While there is a nice blend there is an equal distinction and when they go all in, it's is all in. "Caffeine & Alcohol" sees vocalist Kat Rhapsody really go in on the classic synthpop melodies and does some vocoder riffing where the love of the genre really comes through. While I do think Kat and The Hurricane certainly know what they aim to sound like it would be dishonest to say this is a perfect record. The band have essentially shown their entire hand prior to Got it Out's release. If following the roll out, five of the nine full songs are not new to you. Don't get me wrong, the singles have some great moments. "Therapy" sounds like a passionate bar sing along with some really good one liners. There is one genre twist in "Costume," a hip hop inspired cut with a rap feature which sees The Hurricane's normal sonics mixed with another world in a really compelling way. But beyond these there isn't anything new to dig through; "What is it All For" has the same beats as the other singles and the closest thing to a surprise remaining are the two slow songs on the record.
I'm done writing songs about you, if you don't count this one.
"Costume," as I said, is a great toss up but doesn't feel very genuine. Lyrically it's a pride anthem about not having to hide but has lines I feel veer so close to straight and cis gendered palatability. I just think a trans band has more to offer on this subject than "I'm what the rainbow's missing." I also think there are a lot of good ideas all across Got it Out but most are repeated to the point of wearing on you. Even on more interesting compositions like the untitled outro track, which sees an old DIY cliche in a voice note recorded while driving and highly emotional is made a little too long by playing all of the lines on repeat in a non-uniquely presented way. This is a band who loves the music they make and while I do enjoy certain moments here, I would not call this a fantastic experience. Kat and The Hurricane present themselves as a capable band here and Got it Out is a fine collection of tracks I don't think they were quite ready for a full length at this moment in time.

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