Raspberry Moon
{{Infobox album
| name = Raspberry Moon
| type = studio
| artist = Hotline TNT
| cover = Raspberry Moon.jpg
|border=yes
| released = June 20, 2025
| recorded = 2024–2025
| studio =
| length =
| genre = Shoegaze
| label = Third Man
| producer = Amos Pitsch
| prev_title = Cartwheel
| prev_year = 2023
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc = {{Singles
| name =
| type = studio
| single1 = Julia's War
| single1date = April 9, 2025
| single2 = Candle
| single2date = April 30, 2025
}}
}}
Raspberry Moon is the third studio album by American alternative rock band Hotline TNT. It is scheduled for release on June 20, 2025.
Background and recording
After releasing their second studio album, Cartwheel, in November 2023, the following month, frontman Wil Anderson, announced he already had six songs in development for a future third studio album.{{Cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2023/12/hotline-tnt-will-anderson-interview/|title=Exit Interview: Hotline TNT’s Will Anderson On That ‘S’ Word And A Big 2023|first=Jonathan|last=Cohen|date=December 26, 2023|website=SPIN}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.vpm.org/listen/2024-01-18/hotline-tnts-will-anderson-on-cartwheel-blowing-up-and-whats-in-a-name|title=Hotline TNT's Will Anderson on 'Cartwheel,' blowing up, and what's in a name|date=January 18, 2024|website=VPM}} Anderson noted he wished to record it in between touring plans across 2024, and that contrary to the first two albums, where he recorded all parts himself, he wanted to explore recording with his touring band for the third album. He specifically aimed to record it with a live drummer and recording the first two albums with a drum machine due to not previously have a permanent drummer in the band. Anderson reportedly went back and forth on the approach, also considering recording one more album entirely by himself, but eventually landed on recording the album as a quartet; himself on vocals and guitar, Lucky Hunter on guitar, Haylen Trammel on bass, and Mike Ralston on drums.{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/hotline-tnt-announce-new-album-raspberry-moon-share-video-for-new-song-watch/|title=Hotline TNT Announce New Album Raspberry Moon, Share Video for New Song|first=Matthew|last=Strauss|date=April 8, 2025|website=Pitchfork}} Anderson recorded with music producer Amos Pitsch for the first time in the recording sessions.
Themes and composition
Lead single "Julia's War" was described as "bleary, muscular, catchy-as-hell power-pop" with heavy emphasis on distorted guitars.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2303329/hotline-tnt-announce-new-album-raspberry-moon-hear-julias-war/music/|title=Hotline TNT Announce New Album 'Raspberry Moon': Hear "Julia's War"|date=April 8, 2025}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/hotline-tnt-announce-new-album-raspberry-moon/|title=Hotline TNT Announce New Album 'Raspberry Moon' | News|first1=Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews &|last1=Interviews|first2=Robin|last2=Murray|date=April 8, 2025}} The song title is an allusion to the name of the record label of fellow shoegaze band They Are Gutting a Body of Water. Anderson described the track as emphasizing a more straightforward hook and more upfront vocals than what is usually utilized in shoegaze music. "Candle" was described as a "fuzz-pop love song".
Release and promotion
The album's official name and release date, Raspberry Moon and June 20, 2025, was announced in April 2025.{{Cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2025/04/hotline-tnt-announce-album-raspberry-moon/|title=Hotline TNT announce new album Raspberry Moon, share lead single|date=April 8, 2025}} The album's lead single, "Julia's War", was released at the same time as the announcement.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/hotline-tnt-announce-new-album-raspberry-moon|title=Hotline TNT announce new album, Raspberry Moon|website=The Line of Best Fit}} A music video for the track was released, involving various musicians and comedians going through a fictional "shoegaze bootcamp".{{Cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/hotline-tnt-julias-war-video-watch/|title=Hotline TNT announce new album Raspberry Moon}} A second single, "Candle", was released later in the same month.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2306196/hotline-tnt-candle/music/|title=Hotline TNT Share New Single "Candle": Listen|date=April 30, 2025}} An accompanying music video, featuring Japanese fans reacting to the song, was released at the same time. "Candle" was named Stereogum's second best song of the week upon its release week.https://www.stereogum.com/2306531/the-5-best-songs-of-the-week-576/lists/the-5-best-songs-of-the-week/
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Raspberry Moon track listing{{Cite web|url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/hotline-tnt-announce-new-album-share-julias-war/|title=Hotline TNT announce new album, share "Julia's War"|first=Bill|last=Pearis}}
| all_lyrics =
| all_music =
| title1 = Was I Wrong?
| length1 =
| note1 =
| title2 = Transition Lens
| length2 =
| title3 = The Scene
| length3 =
| title4 = Julia's War
| length4 =
| title5 = Letter to Heaven
| length5 =
| title6 = Break Right
| length6 =
| title7 = If Time Flies
| length7 =
| title8 = Candle
| length8 =
| title9 = Dance the Night Away
| length9 =
| title10 = Lawnmower
| length10 =
| title11 = Where U Been?
| length11 =
| total_length =
}}
Personnel
Band
- Will Anderson – vocals, guitars
- Lucky Hunter - guitars
- Haylen Trammel - bass
- Mike Ralston – drums