“A Potter’s Field” by Louse

It’s inevitable that I always find albums that I missed or overlooked in previous years. Albums that, had I heard them earlier, probably would have been highlighted in a year-end mix. Such is the case with Cincinnati’s Louse.

The post-punk quintet, led by vocalist and guitarist Sam Souders, released their debut album Passions Like Tar back in September 2024. I didn’t really give it a fair shake until after the first of the year, though, and like Marta Mist’s Windows, I’m kicking myself for being late to the game.

Still, better late than never, especially for a song like “A Potter’s Field.” At just over four minutes, it’s one of the album’s longer songs, and it makes use of every single second to evoke the same atmospheric gloom heard on The Cure’s earlier albums without ever sounding like a cheap knockoff.