The subversively catchy solo project of Speedy Ortiz's Sadie Dupuis, Sad13 (pronounced "sad thirteen") takes her literate lyrics, empowering viewpoint, and skillful musicianship in further-flung directions than with her band. On 2016's Slugger, Dupuis used her homespun versions of Top 40 sounds to counteract the misogynistic messages in mainstream pop; on 2020's Haunted Painting, she widened her focus, crafting maximalist songs about grief, gentrification, unfunny comedians, and art itself.
The project's roots started when Dupuis met rapper Lizzo while on tour with Speedy Ort...