I’ve reached an age where rock music’s endless collection of labels means less and less to me.
Punk. Garage. Surf rock. Alternative. Indie.
At some point, I stop worrying about where the record belongs and start asking simpler questions.
Is it genuine?
Does it have something to say?
Does it rock?
For me, Penny & The Pits checks all three boxes.
Led by Penelope Stevens, the project has earned praise for its punk influences, feminist themes, and adventurous approach. While others may spend time debating genres, what struck me most was how naturally those elements come together.
This isn’t an album that relies on a message alone. Nor is it an album built solely on attitude or volume.
It’s a record that understands the value of both.
From one track to the next, the musical landscape constantly shifts. There are moments that feel playful, moments that feel confrontational, and moments that feel almost cinematic. Yet somehow the core identity of the album stays intact. No matter where the songs travel, they never seem to lose sight of where they’re going.
That’s not easy to pull off.
What impressed me most was the balance.
The music is adventurous enough to keep you engaged, but not so determined to prove its cleverness that it forgets to connect. The hooks, the energy, and the performances keep pulling you forward, while the deeper themes slowly work their way into your consciousness.
And that’s where I found myself reflecting on something larger.
Many of us grew up with classic rock. We sang along to songs without always thinking about the ideas embedded within them. Some celebrated rebellion. Some celebrated freedom. Some reflected views on relationships and gender that haven’t necessarily aged well.
That doesn’t mean those songs turned listeners into bad people.
And by the same token, a record built around feminist perspectives isn’t trying to turn anyone into something they’re not.
What it can do is offer a different viewpoint.
It can invite listeners to experience the world through another lens.
That’s one of music’s great strengths. Not its ability to tell us what to think, but its ability to help us understand experiences beyond our own.
Penny & The Pits does that without sacrificing what matters most to me as a rock fan.
The songs still hit.
The guitars still bite.
The energy is real.
The conviction is unmistakable.
In the end, maybe that’s why I keep coming back to this album.
Not because it fits neatly into a genre.
Not because it carries an important message.
Not because it’s trying to make a statement.
But because it succeeds at the thing every great rock record aims to do.
It grabs hold of your attention and refuses to let go.
Whether you call it punk, surf rock, indie rock, or something else entirely is up to you.
To my ears, it’s simply good rock and roll.
And that makes Penny & The Pits a deserving nominee for Breakout Artist of the Year.
– Brock Gallant
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