Annie Dressner – Dumb Boy (2026)
It’s shockingly been a year since I finally got to catch Annie Dressner live, and even more ridiculous is that it has been nearly two years since Annie Dressner’s last album, I Thought It Would Be Easier, dropped. So when her new single ‘Dumb Boy’ dropped in my inbox, I was beyond delighted. Having been a fan of Dressner’s work for a few years now, my hopes are high with any release she puts out, and this did not disappoint.
‘Dumb Boy’ offers the typical pop rooted in folk vibe in which Dressner is a skilled practitioner, but it has a garage band rock feel to it. The opening bars are reminiscent of that pop-rock which dominated the mid to late 90’s and adds the warmth of nostalgia to it from the outset.
Lyrically, Dressner again displays her talent to convey a narrative perfectly and tap into a familiar feeling for so many people, whilst crafting the perfect hook and birthing an earworm that will stay in your head for an age. That of being deep into the infatuation we’ve all felt when getting close to someone, you know that it’s a bad idea but you persevere until you reach the end of your tether and resort to childish name call, which is articulated perfectly in the lyrics “You’re just a dumb boy in a band / I like the way that you lean when you stand / And you’re just a dumb boy in a band / and I hate that you made me cry.”
As if ‘Dumb Boy’ wasn’t enough excitement, Annie Dressner’s new yet-to-be-named record is on the horizon, but without a firm release date, 2026 is looking like it’ll be a great year for this fantastic artist. Until we get this untitled release, Dressner is out on tour across the UK from the end of March all the way through April, kicking off with supporting Stornoway, followed by a string of shows with Scottish singer-songwriter Kris Drever. So if she happens to pass through your neck of the woods, I encourage you to get down and show your support. Having caught her last year in Leeds, I know you won’t be disappointed.
For more from Annie Dressner, check out her official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
