Giant Drag

Giant Drag formed in Los Angeles in 2003 around Annie Hardy, who wrote the songs and handled vocals and guitar. Their debut album 'Hearts and Wrecks' came out in 2008, with 'Garbage Heart' as its most recognizable track. That song, along with others like 'Pretty Little Neighbor' and 'Cordial Invitation,' gave shape to their sound, a kind of atmospheric, confessional rock that felt both intimate and slightly frayed at the edges.

They put out a few more records after that, including 'Lemonade and Moonpies' in 2010 and 'Under the Waves' in 2015. The band toured some, and the lineup shifted around Hardy over time. Their music often circled themes of mental strain and complicated relationships, which connected with a certain slice of the indie audience without ever tipping into mainstream notice.

Hardy's own difficulties with depression and substance use were part of the story, sometimes affecting the band's momentum. But the work that stuck, like 'Garbage Heart' or 'Wicked Game,' had a plain-spoken, darkly melodic quality that didn't need much dressing up. It was just a particular kind of L.A. rock, made by someone working through things in real time.