Hop Along

Hop Along are an American indie rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formed in 2005. The band is led by vocalist and guitarist Frances Quinlan — whose extraordinary voice, capable of leaping between a delicate murmur and a raw, keening cry within a single phrase, is the most distinctive element of their music — alongside her brother Mark Quinlan on drums, Joe Reinhart on guitar, and Tyler Long on bass. Rigid / Friendly (2012), their debut album under the current band name, announced Frances Quinlan as a significant new voice in indie rock, her writing marked by literary density, formal originality, and emotional candour. Get Disowned (2012) followed quickly, furthering their reputation on the independent circuit. Painted Shut (2015), released on Saddle Creek Records, brought the band to wider critical attention — its fusion of sprawling indie rock arrangements with Quinlan's vocal acrobatics and increasingly sophisticated songwriting earned it a place on numerous year-end lists. Bark Your Head Off, Dog (2018) was even more celebrated, a more sonically adventurous record that explored jazz-influenced rhythms and unconventional song structures. It received widespread acclaim and is considered one of the best indie rock albums of the decade. Frances Quinlan has also released solo work under her own name, and the extended gap between Hop Along albums has been filled with individual projects. The band's small but passionate discography marks them as one of the most genuinely original voices in American indie rock.