Like so many bands that cut their teeth playing basements, rental halls, and teencenters around the Puget Sound in the early ‘90s, the Olympia trio Lync may have had similar roots to the local rock heroes of the era but were conscientiously averse to the trappings of mainstream success. Lync kept the grit, the shouted vocals, and the rough hewn choruses, but eschewed the machismo and metal swagger. Their song “Cue Cards” is a perfect encapsulation of their overall approach—heartfelt melodies, bashed drums, hoarse throats, gritty bass lines, and fractured guitars. Lync’s legacy was interwoven with fellow PNW artists like Modest Mouse, 764-Hero, and Red Stars Theory—bands that were crucial to the foundation of Suicide Squeeze Records. It only made sense for Suicide Squeeze to reissue Lync’s lone LP, These Are Not Fall Colors back in 2023. And in conjunction with the reissue, Suicide Squeeze is proud to announce the second single featuring a choice cut from Fall Colors paired with a current artist’s reinterpretation of the song. On their latest 7”, Lync’s original version of “Cue Cards” is paired with a cover by Julia & The Squeezettes—a Suicide Squeeze-centric all-star line-up featuring Julia Kugel of The Coathangers and Julia, Julia, Staz Lindes of The Paranoyds, Bonnie Bloomgarden of Death Valley Girls, and Rikki Styxx. On their rendition, Julia & The Squeezettes excise the half-time distorted bombast of the original in favor of up-tempo minimalism. Guitars are reduced to a few choice phrases, putting the song’s luring vocals and lyrical charms at the forefront. Paired with the propulsive rhythm section, this new approach to “Cue Cards” demonstrates the timeless songwriting of Lync while simultaneously showcasing the creative vision of four contemporary artists in the ongoing lineage of American indie rock. The cover was produced by Julia Kugel and recorded at COMA Studios in Long Beach, CA. Suicide Squeeze is proud to release these two versions of “Cue Cards” to the world on a pressing of 500 Ocean Blue-colored vinyl 7” singles on February 14, 2025.
