Gen and the Degenerates offer another taste of forthcoming second album Earthly Delights with ‘Hotter On The Internet’, a knowingly self-deprecating look at the gap between an online persona and the considerably less rock’n’roll reality behind it. “I think my life and inner world are really interesting and energising, but it’s not very rock’n’roll,” explains Genevieve Glynn-Reeves, who would rather spend time with friends and family, read, swim or decorate their flat with charity-shop finds than live up to anybody else’s expectations.
A wiry, angular bassline drives the verses as Gen delivers each line with a sultry, sardonic swagger, before the bass hands over to big, scratchy distorted guitars for a shoutier, instantly catchy indie-rock chorus. Co-written with The Wombats’ Dan Haggis, there’s something of that band’s knack for a killer hook here, albeit delivered with a much rawer edge. A contrasting middle eight strips everything back to synths and Gen’s voice, briefly pulling the track into stranger art-punk territory before one final chorus crashes back in.
It’s playful without becoming novelty and sexy without losing sight of the joke, allowing Gen to perform the larger-than-life persona while simultaneously poking holes in it. Turns out the internet might get the swagger, but real life gets the charity-shop doo dads. Frankly, that sounds like the better deal.
