The three girls of Tribella know how to put together a alt-pop song. Songwriter Sarah Glynn has a rough voice that meshes with the vaguely distorted, dreamy guitars in a very ’90s rock way. There’s less aggression and more pop in these tunes, grabbing familiar rhythms and melodies and spinning them their own way. Standout track “Deal Breaker” is a perfect example of this, as well as the fascinating “My Guest List.”
The band’s anthemic aspirations are given an understated treatment, which is a stellar songwriting and production move. The songs leave the listener wanting more, which everyone knows is a good idea. Fans of female voices in rock will eat Thirteen up.