Do You Believe in Bubblegrunge? Here Are 3 Albums You Should Know

Bubblegrunge is one of those microgenres that people like to argue doesn’t exist. However, there are many bubblegrunge artists out there, they just tend to be heavier on the grunge, light on the bubble. To prove that bubblegrunge is real and thriving—whether you believe in it or not—here are three albums that trend toward the unique microgenre.

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Clean — Soccer Mommy

Soccer Mommy—AKA Sophie Allison—has a knack for writing bitingly confessional lyrics paired with stripped-down acoustics and light piano. She has a grungy approach to the way she bares her soul and desires in her music, making it seem effortless. I would categorize Clean as a bubblegrunge album due to its girlhood-diary-confessional nature. Bubblegrunge could primarily be called a woman’s genre, and while I hate to pigeonhole it into unnecessary gender categorization, it’s more about the style of lyrical expression than just the fact that a woman made the music. Clean does this as it deals with girlhood issues like dating, relationships, and various traumas.

I Got Heaven — Mannequin Pussy

Mannequin Pussy is definitely heavier on the grunge side, verging into punk in some cases. However, I Got Heaven can fall into the bubblegrunge genre because of that aforementioned lyrical expression. The way Marisa Dabice writes has a definite edge, confronting religion, trauma, sex, and other hard-hitting topics. “Loud Bark” is definitely one of those songs that hits like a freight train in its simplicity, leaning into bubblegrunge sentimentality. I Got Heaven is alt-rock first, indie second, and bubblegrunge third, but it still falls somewhere on the scatter plot of the hard-to-define microgenre.

Moveys — Slow Pulp

Slow Pulp opens Moveys with airy vocals and light acoustic guitar, transitioning into echoing, overlapping voices that create an ethereal essence. The sound is raw and the lyrics are confessional, which lands Slow Pulp in bubblegrunge territory. While Moveys tends to lean more shoegaze than anything, there’s definite overlap between the two genres. It’s in the gentleness, the airy lightness of sound, and the deep emotions overflowing from every song. Bubblegrunge is hard to pinpoint in some cases, but it seeps into many different genres and many different artists, combining elements to create its own narratives.

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