Magnapop

Formed in Atlanta in 1989 around the duo Linda Hopper and Ruthie Morris, Magnapop sits in an alternative rock vein nourished by power pop, pop punk and a direct melodic sensibility, driven by the contrast between Hopper's clear singing and Morris's sharper guitar playing. The band partly extends the heritage of the Athens and Atlanta scenes, Hopper having previously participated in Oh-OK, and first attracted attention in Europe, notably in the festival circuit in the Benelux, before gaining visibility in the United States in the mid-1990s. Their debut album Magnapop appeared in 1992, followed by Hot Boxing in 1994, produced by Bob Mould, then Rubbing Doesn't Help in 1996, where the sound hardens without leaving a concise pop writing. After a hiatus at the end of the 1990s, largely due to label difficulties, Magnapop resumed activity in the early 2000s and released Mouthfeel in 2005, Chase Park in 2009, and The Circle Is Round in 2019. Throughout lineup changes, the Hopper-Morris core remained central, with a repertoire blending nervy choruses, vocal harmonies and on-stage energy, between American indie rock and the abrasive pop tradition.