B-Side Guys

Fourteen months is an eternity in basement show time. Spice Jar’s return with “Again,” released twenty days ago, carries the particular energy of friends reuniting after too long apart—urgent, slightly nervous, and desperate to prove nothing has changed except everything has gotten better. The Columbus duo of Zack Elswick and Alonso Zavala hasn’t just broken their hiatus; they’ve weaponized it, creating a track that sounds both intimately familiar and surprisingly focused.

“Again” immediately announces itself through guitar work that splits the difference between Title Fight’s precision and Dinosaur Jr.’s controlled chaos. This balance reflects Spice Jar’s essential contradiction—musicians capable of sophisticated arrangement choices who deliberately choose accessibility over complexity. The result feels effortless in the way that only comes from extensive practice, suggesting their time away was spent refining rather than reinventing.

The track’s described “fun dynamics” manifest through careful attention to space and tension, creating moments where individual instruments breathe before reconvening for collective impact. This compositional maturity indicates a band that has learned to trust both silence and noise, avoiding the common trap of equating volume with intensity. When the “catchy chorus” arrives, it feels inevitable rather than imposed.

What distinguishes this Columbus outfit from countless other emo-adjacent acts is their commitment to what they describe as “honest, straightforward lyrics” delivered through deceptively cheerful arrangements. This aesthetic choice—melancholy content wrapped in optimistic delivery—has become standard indie practice, but Spice Jar executes it with particular effectiveness, avoiding both saccharine positivity and self-indulgent darkness.

The DIY production approach mentioned in their release notes serves the song’s emotional directness. Rather than polishing away the rough edges that give basement punk its authenticity, “Again” maintains the textural qualities that make listeners feel like they’re experiencing something immediate and unrepeatable. This production philosophy aligns perfectly with their stated affinity for Real Friends, Mom Jeans, and The Front Bottoms—bands that prioritize emotional connection over technical perfection.

As the first of several planned releases this year, “Again” functions as both reintroduction and mission statement. The track demonstrates that Spice Jar’s collaborative chemistry—which originally transformed their side project into main focus—has only strengthened during their absence. Their ability to balance introspective content with infectious energy suggests a band that understands the delicate balance required to create music that works equally well in bedrooms and basements.

“Again” ultimately succeeds because it captures the specific joy of creative partnership rediscovered. Fourteen months away has clarified rather than confused their artistic vision, resulting in a track that sounds like the best possible version of what they’ve always been attempting. Sometimes the most effective way forward involves stepping carefully backward first.