Hello reader,
Welcome back.
Today, we’re going to delve into Poolgirl. While they are a new band to my ears, the press release for their upcoming EP states, “Poolgirl have been carrying the riot grrl torch and setting the scene ablaze since first self-releasing their raw demo Is This It? EP in 2024. Over the last two years, their incendiary performances in Montréal’s hallowed venues, festivals, and DIY spaces have earned them a fiercely devoted local following. The band have appeared in numerous live radio sessions and vlogs, showcasing why they’re one of Montréal’s most exciting punk rock contenders.” At SWT, we’re just beginning to dip our toes into Montréal, QC’s scene, having recently shared an essay from Constantin Blondy, a member of teenage punkers General Chaos. And we are excited to hear more from the city and region. Again, don’t sleep on any scene; there are a lot of talented musicians in the world. If the riot grrl (aka grrrl) torch phrase above intrigues you, learn a hell of a lot more about the riot grrrl movement here.
Still Not Getting What I Want EPÂ is out digitally on Friday, May 15th, via Petit Village Records for your listening pleasure. And later in July, the Still Not Getting What I Want EP will be paired with Poolgirl’s debut, Is This It? EP on vinyl for the first time. Hell yeah.
Giving credit where it’s due. Still Not Getting What I Want EPÂ credits:
- Lead Guitar is Laura Clark
- Rhythm Guitar is Manya Ziemiecki
- Bass Guitar is Gwenna Pirozzi
- Drums is Rachel Bradbury
- Vocals are Miranda Powell-New
- Recorded by Sarah Harris at Le Chateau Part Deux
- Mixed and Mastered by Max Lajoie
- Album front cover artwork: Helen Arias
- Back cover artwork: Worried Devil Design
Listen to the incredible opening track “Money” from the EP via Poolgirl’s Bandcamp page:
Check out the propulsive second track from the EP, “Triple A”:
Overall, the Still Not Getting What I Want EP comes at you hard and fast, picking you up and not letting go. That frenetic pace just doesn’t let go of its grasp on you throughout the 15-minute run time. This release is punk and riot grrrl in all the best ways that will definitely appeal to fans of both genres, both longtime and new. The EP offers excellent melodies and everything that a listener could want. The overall sound is beautifully melodic and blistering. Guitars carry and soar at times, charging forward often. Other times, they hold some gorgeous, powerful grooves (see “Clean” for one example of that), and the drums keep pace and time with it all. Kudos. The songwriting is great too, showing improvement over the band’s debut EP. While that release was solid, everyone shows more confidence in themselves within this release, and the band’s sound reflects that. Not only in evolution, but in quality as well. Powell-New’s vocals are once again crystal clear and delivered with the snarl and attitude you expect, satisfying your riot grrrl itch. The backing vocals on “Clean” provide a wonderful additional layer paired with Powell-New’s lead vocals. There are no bad songs, though I think the opener “Money” was the last to grow on me personally, but it did after a dozen listens. This EP is a collection of songs of the tight-knit band Poolgirl firing on all cylinders, and perhaps will be its magnum opus. Time will tell ultimately, as it always does. Kudos as well to (lead guitarist) Clark, (rhythm guitarist) Ziemiecki, (bass guitarist) Pirozzi, and (drummer) Bradbury for their musicianship and contributions on this EP. And to Harris and Lajoie on the sound. I think this release will stand the test of time as a great EP. Listen to it for yourself and see what you think.
For all those reasons and more, the Still Not Getting What I Want EPÂ gets 4.5 out of 5 Scum Drops from me. This rating is relative to all new EP releases in 2026. I feel it is among the best EP releases this year, regardless of genre, and my rating of 4.5 Scum Drops would place it in the 84th-95th percentile of all new EPs released in 2026. This EP is truly excellent, and right now it is among the best EPs not only in Canada but also in the riot grrrl scene this year. There’s zero doubt in my mind that this is an EP worth adding to your collection on the formats of your choosing, but I highly recommend vinyl if you can snag it. Snag it. Get the digital version at least.
I’ll always advocate that you take the time to listen to every album in its entirety. The listening process for the Still Not Getting What I Want EP will take 15 minutes from start to finish. And just over a half hour if you listen twice back-to-back. You’ll definitely listen at least twice. Along the way, you’ll discover your own favorite songs without the influence or bias of others. After several listens, I found the songs highlighted in green below to be my favorites on this album. Oops, all of them are excellent.
The tracklist for Still Not Getting What I Want EPÂ (song length)
- Money (3:06)
- Triple A (2:39)
- Clean (3:40)
- You Make Me Sick (2:51)
- Checkout (3:03)
Total runtime: 15:19
Like what you heard? Check out their Linktree, Bandcamp, Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube, as well as their socials like Instagram.
Thank you for reading and supporting good music.
Until next time,
Alex
Scummy Water Tower Productions co-founder, reviewer, business manager, and editor. Thank you for visiting this site, scummywatertower.com, and YouTube for Water Tower Sessions and SWT Interviews. And all of our socials.
Questions, feedback, or more? Contact me: alex@scummywatertower.com
