In 2013, Rachel Gagliardi felt something during her shift. While Slutever's drummer and guitarist still believed in her band's motto of bratpunk-first the friends, then the bands— longed for some creative self-discovery. Gagliardi made a deal with Michelle Zauner, then playing in Little Big League, to pursue solo projects daily, posting them on a joint Tumblr account alongside gifs of smothered TV women letting off steam: Marceline, Betty Draper , Chibi Moon. Zauner's turn to indie rock gave birth to Japanese Breakfast. Gagliardi's power-pop songs gave birth to Pouty. While Zauner's new band took off, Gagliardi kept hers close to the chest, riding Slutever and joining members of Hole and Vivian Girls in the grunge-pop group Upset.
A decade later, Pouty's debut studio album has finally arrived. When Gagliardi popped her head off as Pouty in 2016 Take me to Honey Island and of 2017 Saint Mary of the Moods EPs, he embraced spacious, fuzzy pop songs similar to early Best Coast with a rough edge. On You forgot about me, is laser-focused on glossy pop-rock, leaning into big production and bigger hooks with the confidence of someone who's tried on enough pants to shop without hitting the dressing room. Instead of playing every instrument herself as before, Gagliardi calls the shots as bandleader, directing longtime collaborators including guitarist Evan Bernard, bassist Cat Park and drummer Jarret Nathan. The fuse of solo projects is determination—to prove your ideas are worth it, to reveal hidden parts of yourself—and Gagliardi proudly watches it burn. “Denial is a heavy drug,” she sings, as if addressing her younger, gang-bound self.
A lot from You forgot about me she's committed to the teenage girl aesthetic, and not just because Gagliardi has ribbons in her hair or glamor in her jewelry. He sings about astrological stereotypes, full-on love and crying in coffee shops. Her sweet voice is forgiving, but she's in a hurry to dissolve it into the noise-pop absinthe of songs like “Kill a Feeling.” Even her one-liners could have been funded by gel pens: “Life is no way to treat the living,” “I'm warning you right now that sometimes I'm crazy.” Album opener “Salty” is a big tank of power chords, cymbal crashes and Wurlitzers with a delightfully catchy chorus. “I bet you almost forgot about me,” Gagliardi sings, before continuing with a smile: “I ain't ashamed.”
