Tabloid Tales will be released April 28th, and if you’re looking for an original, fun, and occasionally pensive soundtrack for your upcoming summer parties, I highly suggest checking this out.
A little more than a year after their stellar debut, Long Island’s A New Bug continue their foggy haze of hard psychedelia with a solid sophomore selection of songs.
The album is a visceral combination of punk and progressive rock, taking two genres that at one time were diametrically opposed to another in both ethics and style. But weirdly it works, sounding as if Television had more of an interest in King Crimson than the Ramones.
Although it’s not necessarily fresh, surprising, or brave, Kintsugi nevertheless seeps with real-life catharsis, understanding, and internationalization. It’s the best DCFC album around, but it proves that Death Cab for Cutie is probably still the best pop/rock band around.
Returning with an adventurous sophomore effort, Kentucky-based collective, Plastic Bubble, allow their unique psychedelic pop vision to grow into a fanfare of artistic melody.
Omnivore keeps rolling with a stellar unreleased recorded performance from music legend Dion.
Little Shells is the project of Brooklyn singer/songwriter Conchita Campos, and her new album, 5 Deep Under is a grand, tour de force of orchestral pop. Grand in the way they don’t make albums anymore.
Los Angeles trio Marriages revive the dark sludge of Robert Smith for modern audiences.
Riding upon their credo, “I don’t like my future,” the band deliver a heavy hitting, bluesy, and hedonistic rollercoaster ride. Their sound captures the darker side of 60’s garage rock from The Sonics to The Monks.
Watch as the self-titled debut from American Wrestlers help Chris define a whole new genre.
“This compilation reveals the roughness and edginess inherent in early music experiments in this genre, and also shows the punk influence on this San Francisco by way of LA group.”
Chloe’s melancholy singing and lyrics would be considered maudlin by even the likes of Morrissey, and the jangle of the guitars brings to mind a slight touch of Johnny Marr as well.
Born when Charles Bert of Math & Physics Club and Boat’s Dave Krain recruited Jigsaw label owner Chris McFarlane to record some songs outside their respective bands, Seattle-based indie poppers, Unlikely Friends, serve a solid debut on a golden platter.
Psychedelic, proggy, cosmic slop from Japan hits the soul like a hot cup of coffee in the morning.
Mysterious fuzz poppers from the Four Corners Desert, American Culture, offer an excellent debut full-length that perfectly encapsulates their name.
Unable to play guitar for over two years due to chemo treatments stemming from a long battle with cancer, veteran lower NYC songwriter, George Usher, wrote lyrics from his experience, which, in turn, were set to music by friend, Manhattan mainstay Lisa Burns.
Twenty four years in and the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion is still proving that they know how to kick out the jams.
La Spezia, Italy’s sea-obsessed rockers, King Mastino, prove they are the spice of Italian garage rock on their third full-length.
Transatlantic trio, Fractal Mirror, continue their unique brand of dreamy prog with their second album.
Seth Avett. Jessica Lea Mayfield. Elliott Smith. Get the hankies out.
The Great Game is like taking a flight to every continent and realizing there are very little fundamental differences after all.
Grass, Branch & Bone is an album that is light enough to take in and dark enough to stay with you.
Imagine if you will, The Violent Femmes are a bar band in the Delta…
Building on the success of their debut, Town and Country (Eggsong, 2012), Norfolk, UK’s The Vagaband return with their emotionally charged sophomore effort.
Postcards From Berlin sounds like someone plucked all of the *Martin Gore*-sung ballads from Depeche Mode’s discography and compiled them into one collection.
The trailblazing music cited throughout his notable discography has contributed much to neo-traditionalist Americana history and his newest album Wood, Wire & Words, continues that.
What happens when you put a Dylan Thomas reference, English angst, and a star-making vocal performance in a blender? That’s impossible. Those things aren’t material.
“Scott Miller was like the Mitch Easter of the West Coast, sharing Mitch’s songwriting and guitar playing prowess. They were a match made in indie music heaven.”
Exploration seems to be the theme throughout Tangeir Sessions, going to show that even the most transient musical forms can become infinite in capable hands.
After a slew of privately circulated EPs and full-lengths, songwriter Sahm Zalta, aka Nola Gras, delivers his debut public release, a powerful, dreamy, introspective work of art.
Hexadic finds Ben Chasney allowing himself room to freely express the boundaries of Six Organs of Admittance.
Switzerland 1974 is thrilling from start to finish. For those into fusion, prog, krautrock and/or face melting of the jazz variety, this is the release of the year!
With Smoke Paint, Daniel Markham and Tony Ferraro indulge in their more experimental leanings and turn in some pleasing songs in the process.
Seasonal Hire starts and finishes seemingly in continuum, as if it had been always there and always will be.
Crossroads is not only a welcomed addition to the collection of anyone who digs on 70’s singer songwriter fare but also for those looking to dip their toes into the more curious world of private press and loner folk musics
Scandavia’s Artur U & the New City Limits certainly manage to carve out a sound rarely approached as found on their debut album. The band is like a post punk vision of proto punk, as if Iggy Pop were to front an act like Wire.
Experimental London-based singer, Portia Winters, offers a compelling debut that shows just how far pop music can go.
Ape Men combine the repetitive synthpop of Neue Deutsche Welle artists like Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft with the sleazy guitars of Songs of Faith and Devotion era Depeche Mode.
Returning for their second full-length, filthy Brooklyn punk rockers, Nuclear Santa Claust, prove that the old hardcore sound can still be infectiously exciting in this jaded day and age.
Fair Youth is a perfect example of how imaginative, tasteful, and affective instrumental music can be. There isn’t a single moment on here that isn’t remarkable and inspiring, demonstrating the limitless possibilities of what dedicated, talented, and farsighted musicians can do when they work toward a single vision.
Brooklyn-via-Detroit singer-songwriter, Chris Moore – perhaps better known as Negative Approach drummer, Opie Moore – continues his penchant for dark, edgy Americana with a strong full-length collection of songs.
The Madrean is an enthralling, stunning work of art that never manages to shake your captivation, leaving you with a sense of awe.
Moodswings is a massive step up for the band and an amazingly well rounded collection. It carries with it a cohesive, solidified identity, finally allowing the band to stand out on their own
“This album is a sonic feast for shoegaze fans, and an excellent start to what promises to be another great year for this revitalized genre.”
What Keeps Me Going is an unassuming collection of songs, so while the merit may not be screaming out loud at you, the charm and fun of the album only grow increasingly with repeated listens.
Gritty Los Angeles power trio, Wake Up Lucid, offer their fourth release in six years, showcasing a maturity as songwriters.
Hailing from Gothenburg, Sweden, Animal Daydream debut with four songs nodding to the mellow sounds of ’70s soft rock.
Flagstaff, AZ’s Wall-Eyed deliver an ambitious full-length that shows the group’s songwriting growing in leaps and bounds.
