Despite Bully’s sound and their release of a black and white video featuring copious lip synching, Bully’s extremely enjoyable album, Feels Like came out this year, 2015, not 1995.
“Trying” is arguably the standout track on an album filled with grungey, catchy tunes. A swaying bassline and the revelation of a pregnancy care in the song’s opening seconds instantly grab attention, and the rest of the tune justifies the investment.
This song’s focus ping-pongs off the various hard surfaces of lead singer Alicia Bognanno’s neuroses–sexuality, level of education, self-esteem and appearance are all name checked.
The specificity of these concerns breeds empathy, which gives more power to the moment Bognanno’s husky voice shout-sings the chorus. The specificity recedes and relents to the universal sentiment of the chorus “I am
Trying to hide from my mind.” The listener doesn’t need to be told the efforts are ultimately futile, because the mind and its pitfalls of self-doubt always lie in wait.
In addition to encroaching on some heady territory, “Trying” is an awesomely buzzy, fun song.
“Trying” is tailor-made for cathartic shoutalongs. Also, and I mean this in the most complimentary way, it would easily be my favorite, or second favorite, radio single by Hole if it had been released in ’95.
The Ear Regular 