Shoved out of longstanding retirement status by a cult audience that was defiantly still vibing their signature ’90s EP release Lovelife, The Julies return more than two decades later with a new single, “Symmetry.” Anchored by the seismic guitars evocative of the ’90s they last occupied together as a band, “Symmetry” offers old fans a long-delayed glimpse of what could have been while welcoming newer fans into The Julies sound, which continues to mix influences from ’80s post-punk and new wave with ’90s shoegaze and indie rock.
To that point, the song is intentionally invitational. “It’s kind of our ‘calling all misfits’ song,” says vocalist Chris Newkirk. “We grew up on bands that embodied the outsider persona, and as fans we always found community in our shared wonder of their work. It just felt important to celebrate that motivation to make and share music right out of the reunion gate.”
It’s not quite a full reunion, The Julies reboot features three of the five original members—significantly, guitarists Alex Yost and Pat Zbyszewski, whose guitar work has always had a knack for finding instant, fluid synergies. It’s not a stretch to say that you can hear in “Symmetry” the onus for the guitars to now carry the band’s songs in addition to defining their sound. It’s that classic same-but-different sequel setup, and almost everyone likes a good sequel.
The Julies’ new single “Symmetry” can be found now on Spotify, Bandcamp or wherever you stream good music. And check out the lyric video exclusively on Post-Punk.com!