First Listen: New Releases for 1 September 2023

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Artist: Speedy Ortiz
Album: Rabbit Rabbit
Quick Thoughts: Speedy Ortiz and Sadie Dupuis are extremely good at what they do, and Rabbit Rabbit is another solid entry in a long list of them. It's got that angular baseline feel combined with a lot of interesting songwriting and great vocals. Basically nothing unexpected except for how great it is. If you're a fan, you won't be disappointed, and if you're new, this is a great place to start.
Songs of Note: "You S02," "Plus One"

Artist: Slowdive
Album: everything is alive
Quick Thoughts: Shoegaze legends Slowdive are back after a six-year absence with another great effort. It's dreamy and hazy in all the right ways, and captures a band still operating at the top of its game decades after their start. A mandatory listen this week.
Songs of Note: "prayer remembered," "alife," "the slab"

Artist: Jeff Rosenstock
Album:HELLMODE
Quick Thoughts: Jeff Rosenstock is the master of dropping surprise albums at this point, and HELLMODE is perhaps his best effort since Worry. It's super punk, super ska, and even dabbles in some more acoustic directions, but all of it works wonders. A very memorable effort from a DIY veteran.
Songs of Note: "WILL U STILL U," "LIKED U BETTER," "FUTURE IS DUMB," "LIFE ADMIN"

Artist: Ghost of Vroom
Album: Ghost of Vroom 3
Quick Thoughts: It's weird to consider the Mike Doughty/Andrew Livingston project "new," given that this is the third album from the duo, but this Soul Coughing-esque band gets it done. "Still Getting It Done" in particular feels like a leap forward in sound and songwriting from the duo, and the album overall provides a nice late-summer addition to the year's music. Check it out.
Songs of Note: "Still Getting It Done," "Reign of the Hummingbird," "Slipping Off Your Wrist," "Stalagmite"

Artist: No More Blue Tomorrows
Album: No More Blue Tomorrows
Quick Thoughts: Wanted to highlight No More Blue Tomorrows out of southern New Hampshire. This band's debut album is raw and indie as it comes, but there is a lot of special stuff happening here. The band has a sort of country-punk aesthetic, but it reminds me a lot more of the jangly feel of early Gin Blossoms or Toad the Wet Sprocket, and it is REAL good. This band should go places, because the talent and songwriting is there right from the start. Make time for it.
Songs of Note: "Lonely," "As Real As a Heart Attack," "It's Cool," "For Forever," "27 Minutes"

Of note:

* Icona Pop - Club Romantech (Long-awaited listen worth the time.)
* The Natvral - Summer of No Light (Solid mixed-genre effort from former Pains of Being Pure at Heart singer.)
* Frankie and the Witch Fingers - Data Doom (A fun indie effort worth paying attention to.)
* Drab Majesty - An Object in Motion
* Elliott Fullam - End of Ways
* The Paper Kites - At the Roadhouse
* Public Memory - Elegiac Beat
* Dr. Quandry - GHOST MINT TAPE
* Bullant - Late Life Circ
* Medicine - Silences
* Rosie Tucker - Tiny Songs Volume 1
* Sprain - The Lamb as Effigy
* Lathe of Heaven - Bound by Naked Skies
* Field Medic - light is gone 2
* Euglossine - Bug Planet is the Current Timeline
* Arrowounds - The Slow Boiling Amphibian Dreamstate
* Chris Pierce - Let All Who Will
* Jaimie Branch - Fly Or Die Fly Or Die Fly Or Die ((world war))
* Thelma and the Sleaze - Holey Water
* Kendra Morris - I Am What I'm Waiting For
* Real Bad Man and Blu - Bad News

EPs:

* Gena Rose Bruce - Lighting Up
* dayaway - blue summer moon
* Dreamcoaster - Say Nothing EP
* SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE - I'm so lucky
* Charli Adams - nothing to be scared of
* Kai Whiston - XUL1
* Geowulf - Polyamory
* Gemma Cullingford and Luke Wright - FOMO EP
* Perennial - The Leaves of Autumn Symmetry
* Qveen Herby - HOUSEWIFE
* Marem Ladson - Baby Light

Also out:

* Ivan & Alyosha - All We Ever Had
* Show Me The Body - Trouble the Water
* Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons - Kings of the Asylum
* AUNTY RAYZOR - Viral Wreckage

On Repeat...

Liam Kazar - "Shoes Too Tight"

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Photo by Alexa Viscius This may be Liam Kazar's debut single, but the Chicago based musician already has an impressive resume, having worked with Jeff Tweedy, Chance the Rapper, Steve Gunn, Daniel Johnston, and others. "Shoes Too Tight" features childhood friend Spencer Tweedy on drums, Lane Beckstrom on bass, and Ohmme on vocals. It's an absurdly fun and groovy little song that is a party waiting to happen. What he gives us here is a timeless song that could truly have been released any time since the 1960's (ok... maybe not the 80's...) There are elements of classic rock, 60's crooners and R&B, indie rock, modern Americana... it's really just packed with everything in a cohesive song that maintains the vibe the entire way through. You can watch the video for "Shoes Too Tight" below. For more on Liam Kazar, check him out on Instagram and Twitter . He's also raising money on his Bandcamp for Constellation and The Hungry Brain. ...
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The Freqs - "Witch"

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Photo via Facebook When you're a rock band from Salem, MA, you have to have at least one song about witchcraft. The Freqs have fulfilled their obligation with a banger of a song. "Witch" is this giant monster of a song, filled with fuzz and strained, screaming vocals. This is the type of song that doesn't usually exist in this century. It's giving me some serious 90's flashbacks, like if Hum got aggressive or Alice in Chains decided to do some damage on the college charts. As great as the vocals are in "Witch," what's really drawing me in is the instrumental break down that takes over about halfway through. This is the kind of song to make the hipsters and the headbangers equally excited. You can listen to "Witch" below. For more on The Freqs, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram . The Freqs · Witch
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Dutch ReBelle - "GOONIEZ"

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How is Dutch ReBelle not a national superstar at this point? The Boston MC just released "GOONIEZ," and I know I'm a bit out of touch with current mainstream hip hop, but this song is absolutely killer. It's a stripped down hip hop song that has this futuristic space age sound to it. Plus, ReBelle's flow is unsurpassed. You can't listen to her and not be completely sucked in. The song has a feel reminiscent of classic Missy Elliott. As much as I love that we can still see Dutch ReBelle in smaller Boston venues, "GOONIEZ" proves she should be playing much larger venues nationwide very, very soon. You can watch the video for "GOONIEZ" below. For more on Dutch ReBelle, check out the artist's website . 
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