“Pensive” captures the quiet fire at the heart of Bad Self Portraits’ debut

There’s something unmistakable about the way a band sounds when they’ve got nothing to lose and everything to say. Bad Self Portraits have been a fixture in Omaha’s indie rock orbit for a while now—tight sets, sharp lyrics, an energy that burns hot and honest—but their debut LP I Think I’m Going to Hell feels like a seismic shift.

The record opens its chest and lets the blood spill slowly. It’s not interested in easy catharsis. Instead, it pulls you through the kind of memories that never fully fade—religious panic, generational trauma, strained maternal bonds. Vocalist and bassist Ingrid Howell sings about these things, but she also breathes through them, turning shame and fear into melody.

“Pensive,” the lead single, could’ve gone saccharine in lesser hands. Instead, it’s a quietly devastating character sketch, built around the kind of love that doesn’t erase your damage but tries to hold it anyway. The contrast between Howell and her partner’s upbringings—one fire, one water—makes the song feel like a whispered argument at a kitchen table that turns into a slow dance.

I Think I’m Going to Hell is a declaration, and what makes it hit even harder is how it’s being released. The album drops exclusively on vinyl on August 26 through Buy Before You Stream, a project from Midtopia that’s reimagining what it means to support independent music. By offering physical editions before streaming, and giving artists 100% of the profits, it creates a sense of ownership—for both the listener and the band.

That model matters, especially for a band like Bad Self Portraits. Their music doesn’t slot neatly into playlists. It needs to be held, turned over, maybe even cried over. Vinyl makes sense. This is a time capsule kind of record—the kind you play alone with headphones when you’re not ready to tell someone how bad you’re hurting.

And if that sounds bleak, it’s not. It’s just true. This album doesn’t wallow. It insists. On presence. On reckoning. On being seen clearly, even in the dark.

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