Skip to Content
Talkhouse home
Talkhouse home
Music

Best of 2020: Alicia Bognanno Loved the New Waxahatchee Record

The Bully frontwoman talks Saint Cloud and Katie Crutchfield’s “fantastic” lyrics.

I was on tour somewhere in Washington when we first listened to “Fire” in the van. It was just really upbeat, and I think that was the most memorable part of it — it’s just a very appropriate song to turn on first thing in the morning, it’s very feel-good. That’s not easy to come across, and I think it’s really needed now especially. But that was my initial pull to the record.

As I kept listening through, it’s just such an easy listen. It’s well-rounded, it’s dynamic, it’s versatile. One of my favorite things in music in general is listening to a song and realizing there’s only three things going on in it, but it’s that good of a song that it doesn’t need any more. The first song on the record, “Oxbow,” is probably my favorite song, and it’s kind of a perfect example of that. It’s really stripped down, but it’s so solid. 

Another huge thing is Katie is a fantastic lyricist. I’ve thought that forever — she and her sister Allison [Crutchfield] are just really, really good writers. You can tell that there’s a lot of consideration that goes into the lyric process and it's very admirable.

Waxahatchee’s Saint Cloud is out now, as is Bully’s SUGAREGG

As told to Annie Fell. 

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Music

Explore Music

Mood Board: Booker Stardrum and Evan Shornstein’s OOPS!

The collaborators on how Tony Williams, California, and more inspired their new record.

Don Cento and Matt Kivel Love Charles Grodin

The collaborators talk “Charles Grodin-coded” music, good song titles, and Cento Threeo’s Halfway to Mellowtown.

June 18, 2026

Swallow and sweet93 Don’t Make Their Beds

Louise Trehy and Chloe Kohanski talk their writing processes, studio experiences, and Blown.

June 16, 2026

Mood Board: Paycheque’s Paycheque

The LA duo on how Paul Schrader, a pair of Mercedes Benzes, Britpop, and more inspired their new record.

June 12, 2026

Hear First: Ravi Shavi’s Wild Rock Dove

Rafay Rashid talks to actor Kevin Corrigan about his new record — which is out today!

June 12, 2026

Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses) Talks with Joe Keithley (D.O.A.) on the Talkhouse Podcast

"You guys were The Stooges for me... You were KISS. You were everything."

June 11, 2026