Purse Thief – Modern Lover
“Modern Lover” emerges from the New Mexico underground, with a raw country-rock basis mixed with punk and funk-rock spirit. The guitar work is intentionally raw, garage-rock, and the rhythm section adds a free groove that sometimes calls to mind the funky side of Red Hot Chilli Peppers. The production maintains the underground vibe rather than attempting to make everything seem overly sophisticated, giving the tune a rebellion and spontaneous attitude. The song’s lyrics are particularly interesting, combining references to Jonathan Richman, Johnny Lydon, David Bowie, Brian Eno, Joni Mitchell, and Iggy Pop in a series of humorous, amusing remarks about music, heroes, money, and desire. The writing has a purposely chaotic aspect, with humour and cultural references continuously crashing. The repeated “Modern Lover” lines give the song a distinctive hook, and the references to the roadrunner become almost silly poetry within the broader story. Musically, “Modern Lover” sounds like a cross of garage rock, punk attitude, and groovy alternative rock, with lo-fi guitars providing the majority of the taste. The song’s flaws actually work to its advantage, emphasising its underground identity and making the performance feel spontaneous rather than planned. It’s a music that appears more concerned with attitude, ideas, and personality than perfection, and that’s exactly what makes Purse Thief’s sound so intriguing.
