Often misconstrued as "teenager," Teenanger is a Toronto-based band whose gritty garage punk sound, smart hooks, and wry humor earned them a national following in the front half of the 2010s. Over time their approach expanded to include new wave, jangle pop, and post-punk elements as heard on their eponymous 2017 album. This direction carried over onto the group's sixth album, Good Time, which was released in 2020 by longtime label Telephone Explosion. Formed in 2008, members Chris Swimmings (vocals, guitar), Melissa Ball (bass), Jon Schouten (guitar), and Steve Sidol (drums) came out of the gate with a raw D.I.Y. sound that took cues from bands like the Stooges and Gun Club. They joined the roster of Toronto indie Telephone Explosion and teamed up with Californian labelmates Charlie & the Moonhearts for a 2009 split LP. Teenanger made their full-length debut a year later with the raucous Give Me Pink. Over the next few years, the band grew their audience with albums like 2012's Frights and 2013's $ingles Don't Sell, doubling down on their clamorous garage punk style. A bit of post-punk edge found its way into 2015's unclassifiable eight-song EPLP (is it an EP or an LP?), but Teenanger's sea change came with their self-titled 2017 set, which introduced better production value, synths, and a greater shift toward pop melodicism. Nearly ten years into their career, the band hadn't lost their edge, but merely expanded their sonic horizons. After founding their own recording studio, Studio Z, Teenanger recorded 2020's wily Good Time, which shifted even further into new wave territory. ~ Timothy Monger