B-Side Guys

Between scanning scones and stocking shelves, Athens, Georgia duo Penny Loafer discovered the alchemy that turns mundane retail existence into dreamy musical escapism. Their second single “Ugly” arrives as proof that great art can germinate in the most fluorescent-lit environments—this time taking shape as a hypnotic incantation of desire.

Unlike its more upbeat predecessor “Fridge” (which celebrated cooling technology with tongue-in-cheek exuberance), “Ugly” exists in emotional twilight. Emma Barnes’ lush guitar work creates atmospheric tides that swell beneath the mantra-like repetition of “I want you, I want you, I want you for myself”—a phrase delivered with such mesmerizing simplicity that it borders on the subliminal. This minimalist lyrical approach operates with peculiar effectiveness, suggesting that desire stripped to its essence requires few words but considerable emotional weight.

The production choices highlight the duo’s self-described “post-college rock” aesthetic while incorporating dream pop elements that recall the Beach Boys’ “All I Wanna Do” without mimicking it. Reverb-drenched guitars cascade through the arrangement, while Seth Parker’s percussion provides subtle rhythmic foundation rather than assertive propulsion. This approach creates suspended animation where longing exists without resolution—perfect for the track’s liminal emotional state.

What distinguishes “Ugly” from similar dream pop offerings is its incorporation of 90s alternative influences from Sonic Youth, The Breeders, and Fugazi without surrendering to full-blown nostalgia. The duo’s “freshly-graduated angst” has been tempered with technical proficiency, creating music that acknowledges its influences without being imprisoned by them. This generational synthesis demonstrates how Barnes and Parker have absorbed their musical heritage while avoiding derivative reproduction.

Most intriguing is the song’s title and closing line about “wanting you to be my ugly”—suggesting complex desire beyond mere attraction. This lyrical choice transforms conventional romantic sentiment into something more possessive and contradictory, creating interpretive space where listeners might project their own experiences of wanting someone’s flawed, authentic self rather than idealized projection.

Recorded at Athens studio The Eye under the guidance of Indecent Artistry’s Adam Wayton (a process the band described as “creatively efficient and surprisingly vulnerable”), “Ugly” serves as compelling evidence that Penny Loafer’s forthcoming EP “Daily Deal” (due March 28th) may indeed deliver on its promise of being “not only good, but good for you”—nutritious indie sustenance for hungry ears.

As the duo prepares for their single release show at Athens’ Flicker Theatre and subsequent Southeast tour, “Ugly” suggests that sometimes the most captivating music emerges not from dramatic life circumstances but from finding transcendence within everyday tedium—whether between grocery aisles or within unrequited desire.