Album: Steppin’ Razor Blades – Stay Sharp
Steppin’ Razor Blades’ debut album is getting rave reviews from everyone I know, because its two-tone style is something different, but also familiar.
Album
Album: Dream Home Theater – 2
a somber and introspective collection of lofi bedroom folk whose impact demands repeat listens
Single: Alex Paquette et les Insulaires – Et j’ai pris la route
Alex Paquette’s French Canadian ska captures the philosophy of making danceworthy pop music that doesn’t skimp on a sharp political message.
Heirloom by Nathan Evans Fox, A Reckoning with Country Music
I hope you didn’t set out hoping for a Pitchfork-style bit of evenhanded music journalism because I am going to, as the kids used to say, stan the hell out of this man.
Album: dreamscent – Burning Days
Buried beneath the warm, buzzing instrumentals is something raw and vulnerable, and perhaps, at times, even a little cathartic.
Album: Glass Dolls – Old Friend
The new LP from Glass Dolls is an odd to grief and love. An album that flows in a clear direction but with plenty of surprises, written with great poetry and and a moving vulnerability, it carries some gems, here to be discovered.
Album: Helicopter Leaves – Sabrina Nickels
Paying homage to an old friend, Beach Bunny’s Anthony Vaccaro returns with a second solo album featuring bigger production and bigger energy.
Album: The Sneaky Heat Missiles – Songs of Seduction and Swagger
The Sneaky Heat Missiles’ new album is a sci-fi ska opera touching on many relevant moral issues with crazy vocal melodies.
Album: False Advertising – The Sorry Window
Returning with their long-awaited sophomore album False Advertising, cement their place in the UK’s modern rock scene with a distinct blend of sonic identity and anthemic tunes.
Album: Plummet – No Offering
No Offering is the debut record by Plummet, an Oakland-based group that finds intensity through minimalism, dynamics, and duration.
Album: Sun Era – Bedroom Cowboy
Sun Era drops their fourth album, a testament to their DIY ethic, traversing their own frontier with inspiration from the indie explorers before them.
Album: Never Donts – Never Dont Party
The SLC band stakes its claim in the realm of ska-core, where anger and aggression are mandatory and where messaging is paramount.
Album: Big Weather – Big Weather
Big Weather cuts a path for themselves in bite sized packets of home.
Album: Pretty Baby – Layaway Plot
On their debut LP, Charlotte’s Pretty Baby point their melodic post-hardcore toward the grave and put all their grief and anger into the music.
Album: Best Bear – When
Revisiting the Philly post-emo band’s 2022 debut LP confirms their sound and range of talent is as refreshing as ever.
Album: Snailgun – Glass Walls
Noisy, frantic, and messy, the Melbourne/Naarm three-piece’s debut LP roars with a sound much bigger than the sum of its parts.
Album: Zach Angeloni – Lottery Crowd
An offering of catchy, well-crafted indie folk that pairs the thoughtful lyricism of Gregory Alan Isakov with the jammy, viscous fun of Mt. Joy.
Album: Westcoast Backbeat Orchestra – 2
New eight-piece ska band out of Sweden has the full richness of a small orchestra.
Album: Cape Crush – Place Memory
The Boston power-emo band’s debut LP emphasizes the power of connection, showcasing and experimenting with their well-honed sound.
Album: Bliss Abyss – S/T
The self-titled debut blends various indie styles to form a scorching testament to seeking pleasure and getting stuck in the poisonous emotional expanse.