San Francisco's 37 Houses have been steadily building momentum since forming just a couple of years ago,, channelling a classic mid-90s indie rock/post-punk energy—think Pavement's slacker bite mixed with Built to Spill's melodic reach and a touch of Smashing Pumpkins' emotional heft.
Their self-titled debut and the Strangers EP showed a band unafraid to lean into raw feeling while keeping things hooky and immediate. Now, with their second album on the horizon, they've dropped the lead single "Eye for an Eye," and it's a sharp, timely gut-punch that feels like the natural evolution of their sound.
From the opening moments, the track wastes no time establishing its mood. Driving guitars lock into a mid-tempo groove that's urgent without being frantic, while Erin Sydney's vocals cut through with that signature blend of vulnerability and bite. The production (handled with the same crisp-yet-gritty touch that's become their trademark) gives the rhythm section plenty of room to breathe—Jeremy Rosenblum's basslines anchor the song with subtle menace, and the drums hit hard enough to feel lived-in, like they've been played in sweaty basements and DIY venues.
Lyrically, "Eye for an Eye" wrestles with disillusionment and cyclical vengeance in a world that feels increasingly broken. Lines like "I dream of a day when we see, this world ain't worth savin'" (pulled straight from the band's own promo snippets) land with weary conviction, turning the biblical phrase into something more existential than retaliatory. It's not preachy; it's exhausted. Sydney delivers the chorus with a soaring edge that makes the resignation feel almost anthemic—cathartic rather than defeatist. The bridge builds into a controlled swell of layered guitars and harmonies before pulling back just enough to let the final refrain hit harder. Musically, it sits comfortably in 37 Houses' wheelhouse: indie rock with post-punk undercurrents, memorable melodies, and enough dynamic shifts to keep repeat listens rewarding.
Standout moments include the way the guitars chime and distort in the verses, creating tension that pays off beautifully in the chorus, and a brief instrumental breakdown that lets the rhythm section shine before everything crashes back in. If you're already a fan of their earlier material, "Eye for an Eye" will feel like the next logical step—bigger stakes, sharper edges, same heart. For newcomers, it's an excellent entry point that showcases what makes 37 Houses stand out in the current indie scene: honest songwriting wrapped in songs that actually rock.
Add comment
Comments