Joe Glass: Snakewards [Album Review]

Joe Glass
Snakewards
Hallogallo Tapes [2026]

“Snakewards delivers a cassette-era gut punch built from quick instincts, rough edges, and sharp guitar-pop hooks.”

Album Overview: Joe Glass is a Chicago songwriter and multi-instrumentalist rooted in the city’s close-knit guitar-pop scene. Best known for playing alongside Kai Slater in Sharp Pins, Glass has also been quietly building his own catalog through small, self-driven releases. His approach is homegrown and direct, favoring quick recording, collaboration with friends, and instinct over polish. Snakewards, his second full-length, arrived at the very start of the year via Slater’s Hallogallo Tapes. Across thirteen concise tracks, the album moves fast and stays personal, capturing ideas in the moment rather than sanding them smooth. Its cassette release feels intentional, matching a record that values immediacy, presence, and feel.

Musical Style: The album pulls from classic guitar pop and alternative rock, filtered through a garage-leaning setup and simple arrangements. Melodies come quick and often stack tightly, while the rhythm section keeps everything moving forward. The sound leans into tape warmth and rough edges, with instinctive playing that keeps the songs grounded and physical.

Evolution of Sound: Compared to Glass’s earlier work, Snakewards shows a wider emotional and musical range. The songs don’t stick to a single mood, shifting between brisk pop bursts, quieter moments, and slightly off-kilter detours. The pacing feels more assured this time around, letting ideas coexist naturally without forcing them into one shape.

Artists with Similar Fire: Fans of Car Seat Headrest, Guided By Voices, the dB’s, Undertones, Mikal Cronin, Sharp Pins, Motel Beds, or early power pop with a DIY backbone will enjoy this album from the first guitar. There are also nods to indie pop and basement-rock traditions that prize momentum and feel over precision.

Pivotal Tracks: “Freight Train Woman” rises on layered vocals and a sense of lift that sticks, while “Dust On Your Halo” and “New Pose” kick things off with urgency and drive. “Man Who Lost His Diamond” carries a sunlit pull, pairing quick rhythms with sing-along backing vocals, and “Dandelion” closes the record with a feeling of release that rewards repeat listens.

Lyrical Strength: Glass writes about people in motion, emotional stand-ins, and the push and pull between attachment and distance. His lyrics favor suggestion over explanation, letting images of travel routes, lost objects, and fleeting connections do the heavy lifting. The writing feels personal without turning confessional, leaving room for listeners to step inside the songs.

Final Groove: Snakewards doesn’t aim for grand statements or studio perfection, and that’s part of its charm. It’s a record built on quick instincts, strong melodies, and a clear sense of place, one that feels lived-in even on first listen. Joe Glass sounds increasingly comfortable trusting his gut, and if this album is any indication, his next move could push these ideas even further while keeping that same spark of immediacy intact.

JOE GLASS LINKS
Instagram | Bandcamp | Hallogallo Tapes