10 Best Debut Rock Albums Of The 2020s So Far
4. Death Of A Cheerleader - Pom Pom Squad
Pom Pom Squad sounds like it would be the name of a line of children's toys designed to milk parents for every penny they're worth. Instead, it's the moniker of an alt rock foursome from New York.
It could have all gone horribly wrong for the band, as they were just starting to get big when Covid came along and shut the entire world down. Thankfully, their peppy-yet-melancholy tones and grungey output kept them alive in the minds of fans, and they survived what was a brutal time to be a musician.
Lead singer Mia Berrin drew inspiration for this record from the worlds of riot grrrl, Motown, and classic jazz, as well as her own experiences as a person of colour in the music business.
The end result was Death of a Cheerleader, an album that mixed the angst of punk with the outright dread of being a high school student. Berrin's dreamy vocals blended perfectly with the discoloured tones of her backing band and caught the ear of many a disheartened teen.
The cheerleader might be dead, but Pom Pom Squad's prospects are alive and well.