Riley Skinner is a singer-songwriter and electro-folk alternative musician based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her music draws on intriguing melodies, textured layers of sound, and intimate lyrics. Skinner’s music asks the listener to join her in being vulnerable, being gentle, being honest, and being brave.
Recorded in 2017, Spirit presents a live concert performed by saxophonist Oliver Lake, pianist Mathias Landæs, and drummer Kresten Osgood from a show in Lund, Sweden.
As might be surmised from the title, Captivity explores the lives of those incarcerated, specifically those falsely imprisoned, imprisoned for political purposes, given sentences disproportionate to the crimes of which they were convicted, or dying in jail under mysterious circumstances.
Self-described as a “reverse White Stripes,” Lemon Knife are a husband and wife duo from Chicago consisting of Mia Blixt-Shehan on guitars and John Retterer-Moore on drums.
New York City-based musician Paul Maged is back with a politically charged EP titled Crossroads, named after the perceived crossroads of both the singer-songwriter’s own life and the social and political problems facing the country.
Birnbaum takes a dozen pieces from Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier and applies jazz aesthetics, especially instrumental improvisation and rhythmic swing.
Johnson’s acuity in song craft and his use of dynamics over bluster make it one of his most important and memorable solo outings to date.
With a record so inspired, The Garment District will restore your faith in indie pop.
From the city of Portland and the depths of one’s psyche comes Pete International Airport which revolves around Peter G. Holmström of The Dandy Warhols, who has released the new album It Felt Like The End of the World via Little Cloud Records.
While a Mingus tune (“What Love”) appears again on its follow-up, our bassist/composer spends the rest of Gnosis on a slate of strong originals.
Philadelphia-based art-rock duo Tulipomania present ‘You Had to Be There’ , the first single from their new album Dreaming of Sleep, slated for release on November 17 via Sursumcorda Records.
Orchestral strings and delicate vocal harmonies meet the sounds of exuberant rock and roll in the uniquely diverse collective that is The Common Practice.
Denver-based artist Alien Gothic presents their debut album High and Dry, following the lead singles ‘Shine The Lights’ and ‘In The Night’, which portrays these darklings on an existential quest. With 17 tracks on offer, the hour-long album is released via Colorado imprint Latenight Weeknight Records.
New Jersey8 band *CR and The Nones present their new album The Ghosts Are Coming Home, released via Montclair-based Magic Door Record Label. They had previewed two singles in the lead-up to this epic release – ‘The Long Game’ and the title track.
Creating Head West was a true family affair. Zellar’s eldest son Wilson engineered, mixed, and mastered the album in addition to playing all the guitar tracks. His youngest son Owen8 acted as assistant engineer (and primary engineer on vocal tracks), and his wife *Carolyn took all the album art photos. Even his 13-year-old daughter Clementine contributed, adding some percussion.
British folk-pop artist Mike Gale presents ‘Old Man In The Universe’, and the stunning new album Thanks for Always Waving. With 11 tracks on offer, this is a rich and thoughtful collection of world- and folk-inspired indie pop, mastered by Todd Tobias (Guided By Voices, Circus Devils).
It’s unfair to say that 1992’s Circular Temple is the album that put pianist Matthew Shipp on the map.
Boston enclave Rum Bar Records may not have hit the notoriety of, say, Bomp! Records yet, but trust us when we say they have the market cornered on high quality power pop, punk, garage rock, and genre-agnostic rock & roll.
After releasing two indie rock/Britpop-soaked EPs in the 90s, The Julies have sufficiently nabbed our attention with their outstanding first full-length LP, out September 29.
Pioneering shoegazers The Veldt present their new single ‘Aurora Borealis’, the original 1989 version produced by Cocteau Twins’ Robin Guthrie, which also sees Elizabeth Fraser make a cameo appearance on backing vocals towards the end. Complementary to this A-side is the B-side remix, created by The Veldt around the turn of the century.
Following their debut single in January (“The Perfect Wave”), and a second in April (“Inside”), The Summertimes have just released their self-titled debut LP. Songwriters David Beniuk and David Challenger were joined in the studio by a bunch of Australia’s most revered musos, including guitarist Ashley Naylor (Paul Kelly and The Church), drummer Steve O’Brien (Tumbleweed) and bassist Steve Bull (Icehouse)
Leeds-based Italian-born artist Stella Wembley presents her Wasting My Time EP, a four-track release of sheer electro-goth delight surrounding the track “Wasting My Time”. A vocalist, lyricist, composer, music producer and video director, Wembley is a rising star of the UK dark synth and gothic scene.
Inspired by the cyclical nature of success and failure, especially in the face of hard times, Sickafoose composed an interrelated series of pieces exploring the emotional arc of enduring that cycle.
Robby Vee “The Prince Of Twang” was born Robert Velline named after his father Bobby Vee. He is recognized by both the American & Canadian Rockabilly Hall of Fames and in 2019 he was recognized by the IRRMA for a Iowa Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Nomination.
Austin rock duo The Caughtery presents ‘The Rain Song’, leaving their own distinguished mark on the Led Zeppelin classic. Produced and recorded by David Gayler at Studio71West in Spicewood, Texas, this was mixed by legendary producer Tim Palmer (Pearl Jam, Tin Machine, U2, Ozzy Osbourne, HIM, The Mission), who also worked with Robert Plant on his Shaken n Stirred solo album. To boot, Palmer also contributes additional guitar.
Power pop / indie rock outfit The Persian Leaps presents their new single ‘Jeane’, released via Land Ski Records. This propulsive and addictive rendition of one of The Smiths’ lesser known tracks celebrates the band’s colossal body of work and the impact it has had on so many people.
Eleven songs, thirty-five minutes, eight days of recording.
New Jersey band Mirrors On The Moon is set to release their debut EP Whiskey & Wine written, produced, and mixed by Donny Dykowsky and mastered by Joe Lambert on October 6. Mirrors On The Moon is Donny Dykowsky on vocals/guitars, Freddy Pastore on bass (Chesterwhite), John Hummel on drums (Lady Gaga), Dave Archer on keys (UNI and the Urchins) with backing vocals by Emily MacMahon.
UK indiepop duo Karamelien presents their new single “Living With The Moon”, the title track from their forthcoming album by the same name.
An upbeat, breezy offering, this is a feel-good guitar-driven anthem that gives the musical finger to the armchair critics. At the same time, it comes to terms with the ongoing struggle with mental health and embraces the lunar flow – the ups and downs and ebbs and flows of life and all its mysteries.
If you’ve ever imagined Paganini as a pianist performing “Flight of the Bumblebee” after a dozen cups of strong coffee, you’re nearly there.
Portland indie pop artist Berkley releases the full-length debut Pueblo album via Oregon label Big Secret Records. Moving towards the full vision of the small world Berkley has built with his singles “Pueblo Nights”, ‘Your Place” and “Fiesta Day”, the songwriter expands personal flashbacks of his youth growing up in Pueblo, Colorado into 10 tracks of gauzy, straight-ahead reflections on how one creates the myths of their life and whether they are worth living or erasing.
Also known as the KCB Collective, saxophonist Benjamin Koppel, bassist Scott Colley, and drummer Brian Blade have been a working band for a decade.
NYC-based alternative rock outfit Black Rose Burning trails their invigorating third full-length album Ad Astra, mastered by Jason Corbett of ACTORS at Jacknife Sound with the release of the single, “Fight!” Earlier, the band released the singles, ‘Night Terrors’ and ‘Sing to Me (E.L.E.)’.
Reading-based indie pop outfit Rocket Kings present their new full-length Paving The Way album, previewed by the video for the title track. With 12 tracks on offer, this is the band’s sophomore album, full of original songs. Expect top tunes, ukuleles, melodies, harmonies – like a sweet cocktail of The Beautiful South, Belle and Sebastian and The Cranberries.
London-based alternative rock artist Sabatta presents his rip-roaring new single “Get Your Sh— Together” as a wake up call to the masses. A funkadelic groove-laden track that is as addictive as it is memorable, this song heralds his forthcoming album How To Get Even.
Perelman’s clearly searching for the soul balm that comes from absorbing what’s in front of him as sound , taking it into his very pores, digesting it, and letting it inform his own work at a deep level.
”Ghost Stories” is Gareth Koch’s newest instrumental album; an evolution he says that builds off of ”Songs From Another Life” with Steve Kilbey and “Music in the Afterlife” with Martin Kennedy. Dreamy and steeped in lushly layered guitars, the album incorporates elements of classical, prog-rock, and ambient music, referencing music past and present.
Alternative rock / post-punk duo Para Lia present their new album In Clash With The Zeitgeist, an 11-track offering of post-punk and indie rock delight, released via the Berlin label About Us Records.
Ever research someone and think, “Holy cats, what a life!” Dr. Eddie Henderson can bring about that kind of gasp.
Toronto-NYC indie rock power trio ON is back to blow our minds with their fresh single ‘Gator”, released via Toronto-based imprint Indiestructable Records. Like a 2000-pound-per-square-inch bite force from an Alligator, this 6/8 groove is a hook-laden rock waltz. It’s a parody and observation about living in a gated community amongst live Alligators roaming free. “Gator”’s meaning is two-fold.
Portland-based music mavericks Sky Lions present their new album Inside The Circle, a nine-track offering that presents a powerful blend of post-punk with alternative and hard rock.
It’s likely no surprise that the title In Solitude, the latest album from bass clarinetist Steven Lugerner’s multi-faceted group SLUGish Ensemble, references the pandemic.
London psychedelic pop artist Black Market Karma presents “The Sour Truth”, their long-awaited collaboration with legendary musician-producer Sonic Boom (aka Pete Kember) of Spacemen 3 and Spectrum fame. This single will be released on 10” vinyl and digitally via London boutique label Flower Power Records.
Written at a crucial time, pianist Ben Winkelman’s sixth album Heartbeat captures an emotional whirlwind, with anticipation and dread mixing freely and productively.
Formed in late 2015, Brooklyn-based Big Bliss is back with ”Vital Return”. Composed during Covid and amidst an array of setbacks and challenges, their liberating newly released second LP brims with superbly crafted melancholic and intense tunes.
Kurt Jorgensen has been a long time band leader, releasing eight albums to date, while receiving the praise of fans and critics alike. The Minnesota Music Awards has presented Kurt with singer of the year, entertainer of the year, songwriter of the year, album of the year, and song of the year. Brianna Tagg-Jorgensen has played in a number of bands due to her multi instrumental talents. Being proficient at piano, guitar, and has been lucky enough to tour nationwide. Brianna has performed multiple times at South by Southwest and was the lead vocal on a track that was nominated for an Independent Music Award.
When it comes to the latest album from saxophonist James Brandon Lewis and his Red Lily Quartet, the title, quite frankly, says it all.
Last Chance to Learn the Twist is nothing so cliché as a return to form – it’s simply one of this veteran artist’s very best records.
Based in the New Jersey town of Secaucus, Clay Joule is a singer-songwriter who makes buoyant and uplifting soft rock music, characterised by his delicate vocal leads and backed up by warm organic instrumentation. His music always carries an important message and his latest release, “Keep On” is no exception – a dialogue and reminder about who is really in charge of our destiny.
