Alt-rock outfit Friedberg is back with their debut album, Hardcore Workout Queen, set for release on November 8, 2024, via Clouds Hill. With Hardcore Workout Queen, Friedberg steps boldly into the alt-rock scene with a spirited, genre-spanning debut album that celebrates imperfection, humour, and introspective road-trip anthems. Frontwoman Anna Friedberg and her bandmates—Emily Linden, Cheryl Pinero, and Fifi Dewey—have crafted a debut that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable, blending indie-rock, psychedelia, dance-punk, and pop hooks into a seamless journey that’s as much about self-discovery as it is about having a good time.
The album opens with the lengthy track, “100 Times,” a pulse-quickening track that sets the tone with driving rhythms and candid lyrics, inviting listeners into Friedberg’s world—a place where self-reflection is met with a wry sense of humour. The title track, “Hardcore Workout Queen,” epitomizes this balance. It’s simultaneously an homage to the driven “workout queens” and a cheeky anthem for those who'd rather cheer from the sidelines. With a solid bass line and dreamy production, Anna’s lyrics portray a playful rivalry between different lifestyles, embodying the album’s ethos of self-acceptance. This track in particular captures Friedberg’s skill in combining infectious, festival-ready energy with introspective themes.
“So Dope” offers a contrasting perspective by critiquing the shallow nature of social media, the perpetual “highlight reel” that many present online. The song’s upbeat melody plays against its critical lyrics, crafting a piece that’s as catchy as it is thought-provoking. Anna’s commentary on the pressure to display a flawless self feels refreshingly honest and introspective, balancing the album's high-energy tracks with a raw look at the pressures of modern life.
A couple of the album's earlier singles “Hello” and “My Best Friend” make their appearances as pillars of the band's debut album, showcasing Friedberg’s knack for creating catchy, memorable tunes. "My Best Friend," in particular, leans on humour with its music video—a playful take on magazine fitness covers where the band strikes ironic poses as “lazy” workout warriors. This satirical take reinforces the album's message of self-acceptance and staying true to oneself in a society obsessed with appearances.
The introspective journey continues with “Pull Me Off The Passing Line” and “Venice 142,” tracks that invite the listener to slow down and reflect. Anna describes Hardcore Workout Queen as a “road trip with no destination,” and these tracks amplify that feeling, creating the perfect soundtrack for a late-night drive or a conversation-filled road trip.
With production spanning studios from Berlin to Los Angeles, and sessions with renowned music producers like Dan Carey and Oli Bayston, Hardcore Workout Queen encapsulates a unique global sound that retains Friedberg’s signature European indie-rock sensibility. The result is a polished yet raw album that sounds equally at home in the studio and live on stage.
Friedberg’s Hardcore Workout Queen is a thoroughly enjoyable debut album that plays with the line between sincerity and irony, making it a perfect soundtrack for those who take life seriously without always taking themselves seriously. It's an album for the road, for endless conversations, and for embracing both the active and lazy sides of life.