Stream: HUNNY, ‘Big Star’

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HUNNY (Photo by Natalie Hewitt)

L.A.’s HUNNY have done a fairly entertaining job whiplashing between new wave, pop-punk, emo and alternative rock since they thrummed their way out of Newbury Park (the Neighbourhood’s neighborhood) nine years ago. Stylistically, their attention span has always seemed … What is it we were talking about again?

It figures to be business as unusual with the band’s second full-length, “Hunny’s New Planet Heaven,” out Oct. 6 via Epitaph. Along with the album news, today brought the new single “Big Star,” a bite-sized, typically catchy slab of poptimism.

“Don’t stay / is your old ways / Big star, can’t fall off it / You’re something supersonic,” Jason Yarger sings.

The album found the band — Yarger, guitarist Jake Goldstein, drummer Joey Anderson and on bassist/keyboardist Kevin Grimmett — working with co-producer and longtime collaborator Derek Ted. HUNNY calls it a nod to what they call their hungrier, scrappier days.

“We’re really trying to be less precious about what makes it out into the world,” Goldstein says. “We want to get out of our own way and release as many things as possible. Brett [Gurewitz, Epitaph founder] always says it’s the best way for us to be operating: ‘Keep putting stuff out, because you never know what’s going to work. If you’re inspired to create, create.’ Ultimately, that’s all we’ve ever wanted to do – oh, and be the biggest band in the world.

“We love genre play and pastiche,” the guitarist adds, “the idea of a record that sounds like changing the channels on a TV – distinct but still able to be enjoyed as a whole.”

“Big Star” follows the April release of the single “Action –> Reaction.”

||| Stream: “Big Star” and “Action –> Reaction”

||| Live: HUNNY opens for Waterparks tonight (tickets) and Wednesday night (tickets) at the Fonda Theatre.

||| Previously: “Loser,” “Speed Dial,” “Sports With Strangers,” Quarantunes, “Saturday Night” (feat. Bleached), “Rebel Red,” live at the Teragram, “Shy,” 2016 Winter Talent Show, “Colder Parts,” “Parking Lot,” “Natalie,” “Cry for Me”