Amnesia

That this female punk trio from Philadelphia have been likened to the now-legendary Columbus, Ohio, group Scrawl is just about the highest compliment that can be paid to a band that plays it straight and raw. Where other groups recording in 2014 typically use a number of studio effects to beef up their sound, Amanda X are plenty confident, letting their performances speak for themselves. Songs like “Dream House” and “Tunnels” certainly recall Scrawl's energy and beautifully off-kilter harmonies, while adding a touch more tangle in the guitar riffs. Sleater-Kinney also come to mind in the way Amanda X flash their aggressive side. Tiff Yoon’s powerful drumming drives songs such as “Things Fall Apart,” “Parsnip,” and “Trouble” in the commanding way that a solid drummer makes a good punk band great, while singer/guitarist Cat Park and singer/bassist Kat Bean combine for vocal magic. The slower, subtler songs like “Low & Mean” and “Friendly Tones” demonstrate their natural way with melodies.