Out Now: MUNA Delivers a Powerful Statement of Purpose and Confidence with New Self-Titled Album (Listen)

There’s a prevalent theme throughout the new self-titled album from MUNA, the indie-pop band signed to Saddest Factory Records, an imprint of the Dead Oceans label that was founded by Phoebe Bridgers in 2020.

As was made more than evident in a series of pre-release singles from the album, the trio — Katie Gavin (she/they), Naomi McPherson (they/them), and Josette Maskin (she/they) — has taken a leap with its songwriting on its third album. Confidence and an unwavering sense of identity is at the core of the record’s themes.

we are floored and honored by the ways you’ve let our music into your lives. we hope this record makes you feel seen and heard, and we hope it soundtracks new experiences beyond what you could’ve wished for yourself, as it already has for us…enjoy muna. by muna. lol.

— MUNA (@whereisMUNA) June 24, 2022

Take “What I Want,” one of the album’s strongest moments, and its pre-chorus:

I’ve spent way too-too-too many years not knowing what
What I wanted, how to get it, how to live it and now
I’m gonna make up for it all at once
Cause that’s, that’s just what I want

Defiant, confrontational honesty, the type that doesn’t afford for wasting time. That’s what we’re talking about here, and the song is an absolute queer anthem, as well, with its infectiuos chorus of “I want to dance in the middle of a gay bar”:

Another pre-release track, “Anything But Me,” channeled a Wilson Phillips vibe into a slick slice of indie/pop:

Click here to pick up MUNA on CD from our Rock Cellar Store
Click here to pick up MUNA on LP from our Rock Cellar Store

“Kind of Girl” tackles self-identity in a starkly effective manner:

And so on. MUNA introduced its latest era with “Silk Chiffon,” a simply irresistible pop anthem with Bridgers as a special guest:

Prior to linking with Bridgers and Saddest Factory Records, MUNA was a somewhat underground indie/pop project — but with this new record, the group is poised to explode on the national scene, if not bigger. The pre-release tracks hinted at a major leap, and that’s precisely what the band accomplishes with this album.

Get on board now if you weren’t already there. Bigger things are yet to come.

Catch MUNA on the road in the coming months:

July 28 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall – Lollapalooza Aftershow (SOLD OUT) *

July 29 – Chicago, IL – Lollapalooza

July 30 – Cleveland, OH – Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ~

August 2 – Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall ~

August 3 – Pittsburgh, PA – Mr. Smalls Theater ~

August 5- Louisville, KY – Headliners ~

August 6 – St. Louis, MO – Delmar Hall ~

August 7 – St Charles, IA – Hinterland Music Festival

August 8 – Minneapolis, MN – First Ave ~

August 11 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory ~

August 12 – Seattle, WA – Day In Day Out Festival

August 13 – Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom (SOLD OUT) ~

August 15 – San Diego, CA – Observatory Northpark (SOLD OUT) ~

September 18 – Boston, MA – Royale (SOLD OUT) *

September 19 – Boston, MA – Royale (SOLD OUT) *

September 20 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club (SOLD OUT) *

September 23 – Nashville, TN – Marathon Music Works *

September 24 – Atlanta, GA – Masquerade – Heaven *

September 26 – Washington DC – 9:30 Club (SOLD OUT) *

September 27 – Toronto, ON – Phoenix Theater (SOLD OUT) *

September 28 – Philadelphia, PA – Fillmore *

September 30 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza (SOLD OUT) *

October 1 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza (SOLD OUT) *

October 2 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza (SOLD OUT) *

October 4 – Detroit, MI – The Majestic Theater *

October 6 – Kansas City, MO – The Truman *

October 9 – Austin, TX – Austin City Limits

October 10 – Houston, TX – House of Blues *

October 11 – Dallas, TX – The Echo Lounge & Music Hall *

October 13 – Sante Fe, NM – Meow Wolf @ Santa Fe Brewing *

October 15 – Boulder, CO – Boulder Theater *

October 16 – Denver, CO – Gothic Theatre *

October 17 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot *

October 19 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren *

October 23 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore (SOLD OUT) ~

October 24 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore (SOLD OUT) *

October 25 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern (SOLD OUT) *

October 26 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern *

November 10 – London, UK – Roundhouse

November 11 – Brighton, UK – Chalk (SOLD OUT)

November 13 – Bristol, UK – O2 Academy

November 15 – Glasgow, UK – SWG3 TV Studio (SOLD OUT)

November 16 – Edinburgh, UK – Liquid Room (SOLD OUT)

November 17 – Newcastle, UK – University Union

November 18 – Leeds, UK – Stylus

November 20 – Birmingham, UK – O2 Institute 2

November 21 – Manchester, UK – Albert Hall

*w/ Meet Me @ The Altar

~ w/ Jensen McRae