FOAM - Trouble

​FOAM

Trouble
self-released; 2025

By Matt Jensen
​

Foam’s new EP Trouble doesn’t pretend to be anything other than what it is, and that’s part of what makes it so effective. With just four tracks, the EP doesn’t overreach. Instead, it stays rooted in a distinctly alternative lineage that pulls from the early emotional excavation of artists like Elliott Smith and the fuzzed-out pulse of bands like the Pixies, Weezer, and even Nirvana.

The title track “Trouble” kicks things off with a melodic hook that lodged itself in my head almost immediately. There’s a casual confidence to the delivery that reminds me of Mitski in the way vulnerability gets wrapped in tension and pop instinct. The structure isn’t anything unexpected, but that’s not a complaint. I found the familiarity of the progression satisfying, especially when paired with vocals that feel lived-in.

“Her” is more stripped down and leans into lo-fi textures that call to mind Neutral Milk Hotel. It’s mostly just acoustic guitar and voice, with a few atmospheric touches that never try too hard. The strength here is all in the performance. It felt intimate without being precious, and there’s something unpolished in a good way about how it holds together.

Then there’s “Elysium,” which I’d argue is the emotional centerpiece of the EP. The dissonance woven through the melodies caught me off guard in the best way. The Eastern percussion adds an unexpected layer of warmth, and the vocals stretch just enough to feel raw without losing control. It reminded me of the darker corners of Elliott Smith’s catalog, where beauty and tension quietly coexist.

“Breathing Instructions” closes the EP and immediately shifts the energy. It rips forward with a grungey stomp, full of buzzing guitars and Cobain-esque chord changes. The moment the rhythm section locks in, the track lifts. I loved the grit here and found myself thinking of Ty Segall, especially in the way the song bursts at its edges without losing the thread. There are some sharp transitions too that keep it dynamic rather than just loud.

This is a lean but memorable release. Foam clearly has a deep reverence for 90s and early 2000s alt rock, but they don’t get lost in imitation. What stood out to me was how each song felt fully formed without any excess. It’s an EP that does exactly what it needs to do and then steps back. I’ll be returning to this one.

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