Pop-punk has never been synonymous with activism. This is due to some of the style’s biggest bands being notably sophomoric, but Brooklyn’s Aye Nako is proving that pop hooks are the perfect delivery system for incisive social commentary. On July 10 Don Giovanni Records will release The Blackest Eye, an EP that takes its title from the Toni Morrison book The Bluest Eye and alters it ever so slightly. The A.V. Club is premiering “Worms” below, a track that sees Aye Nako take its attack to the next level. The opening salvo of guitars recall Speedy Ortiz, but vocalist/guitarist Mars Dixon dives deep into racial issues, making the song both thought-provoking and endlessly catchy.
Pre-orders for The Blackest Eye are available now through Don Giovanni Records.