Album: Funeral Soundtrack #4
Quick Thoughts: What a surprisingly awesome alt-punk album from a band we're really starting to love around here. Their first three albums were memorable, to be certain, but this has all the hallmarks of a breakout effort for the band. They've found their footing on songs like "Plucked" and "Shadow (I'm Breaking Down)," and there's a lot of heart and honesty that sometimes gets lost in the shuffle for other bands. Make some time for this.
Songs of Note: "Plucked," "Amor divino," "Shadow (I'm Breaking Down)," "Shedding Skin," "Should've Been Me," "You Don't Know," "You Hear Yes"
Album: Transmissions
Quick Thoughts: Amos Lee specializes in a soulful roots sound, and Transmissions has a "back to basics" flair to it that feels refreshing. With more than 10 albums under his belt, he certainly knows how to write a song, but songs like "Built to Fall" show a level of songwriting skill that shows why he's one of the top names in the genre. A great listen.
Songs of Note: "Built to Fall," "Beautiful Day," "Hold on Tight," "Transmissions"
Album: More Break-Up Songs
Quick Thoughts: Darren Hayman will likely forever be known first and foremost for late 1990s/early 2000s British indie rock act Hefner. He's put out a series of solo albums since Hefner dissolved, done some producing, and now he has a new band, appropriately named New Starts. While Hayman's distinctive vocals still sit front and center, the lyrics are a little more mature and the production a little less DIY, which is certainly expected but also somewhat refreshing. "Under the Striplights" is probably the catchiest Hayman-adjacent song in close to 20 years, and "Asbestos Roof" has every opportunity to go off the rails and yet presents a really gorgeous and touching listen. I'm a big fan of this, and I think you will be too.
Songs of Note: "A Little Stone," "Under the Striplights," "What I Specifically Love," "Asbestos Roof," "I Was Trying to Make You Miss Me"
Album: Forever
Quick Thoughts: It's been a weird year and change for Charly Bliss. A few non-album singles in 2023 brought them back into the musical consciousness and suggested a sort of turn toward a more hyperpop/dance sound (especially the excellent "I Need a New Boyfriend"), but Forever keeps the angst while letting go of some of the sonic experiments. I've been a fan since the first incarnation of "Ruby," and this record feels like an effort to really refine their sound into something that is distinctly their own. There's a ton to love here, and I honestly just hope it's not five years until the next record.
Songs of Note: "In Your Bed," "How Do You Do It," "Waiting for You," "Last First Kiss"
Album: Tropical Depression
Quick Thoughts: In a world with countless roots-folk acts, it's hard to set yourself apart, but Jordie Lane is doing his damnedest to be one of them. I first tripped up on him with Glassellland, an album with just a lot of great ideas and songs from start to finish. While The Empty House Tapes were solid, they were missing the sort of killer song that the previous effort had, and I feel like Tropical Depression decided almost all of them would be killers in response. The first two songs just nail the tone and mood and show multiple sides of Lane's songwriting, but the whole album just has song after song that work in beautiful ways. I'm glad this album exists, and I'm glad it's as good as it is.
Songs of Note: "Back, Out There," "Biscuit House," "The Changing Weather," "Friends," "Blame Me If You Want To," "It Might Take Our Whole Lives," "Been Lucky"
Album: A Firmer Hand
Quick Thoughts: I'm late to the Hamish Hawk bandwagon, having loved last year's Angel Numbers even though I wasn't familiar with his earlier work. I didn't expect a new album so quickly, but here is A Firmer Hand, which feels a little darker and dour than the brightness in the previous record. Hawk's baritone rings true in so many of these tracks, whether "Big Cat Tattoos" (which doesn't feel like it should be as serious as it is) to "Men Like Wire" (a song that feels "classic" to my untrained ear), and it's a solid, entertaining listen on a whole.
Songs of Note: "Machiavelli's Room," "Big Cat Tattoos," "You Can Film Me," "Men Like Wire," "Disingenuous," "The Hard Won"
Album: Magic City
Quick Thoughts: Man, I loved this album so much. Probably my favorite of the week, a fuzzy shoegazey affair that perfectly does what it's trying to do. We were lowkey obsessed with their 2022 EP, and this debut album sounds like it comes from a band 30 years and 10 albums ago. Amazing, amazing listen in a week full of them, and the fact that they're local is icing on the cake. A favorite this week.
Songs of Note: "Bloodshot Moonlight," "Circe," "Magic City," "Northern Lights"
Album: Triggered
Quick Thoughts: I'll admit, someone told me that the version of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" was worth hearing, so I added this album to my list this week and ended up with a super pleasant surprise. It's an angsty, noisy record with some really great guitar work and a big ol' rock and roll attitude, and even the more obvious songs like "Emotional Disguise" or "We Fuckin' Suck" have a message without feeling preachy. A good one to check out this week.
Songs of Note: "Scary Mary," "Hot Glue Gun," "Bad Romance," "Emotional Disguise," "Pull the Trigger," "We Fuckin' Suck"
Of note:
* Girl K - My Future (Hyperpop-influenced dance tracks that are catchy as hell.)
* Liquid Mike - Paul Bunyan's Slingshot (Excellent pop-punk deal.)
* Maxwell Stern - In the Good Light (Power pop lives!)
* The Lenticular Clouds - Mystic Mountain New Age Music Festival
* Murrumur - subdecadance
* And So I Watch You From Afar - Megafauna
* Show Dem Camp - No Love in Lagos
* Benny the Butcher - Summertime Butch
* Belong - Realistic IX
* The Soundcarriers - Through Other Reflections
* Pom Poko - Champion
* Horse Jumper of Love - Disaster Trick
* Peter Cat Recording Co. - BETA
* Dustbunny - Machinery
* dog eyes - holy friend
* Ravyn Lenae - Bird's Eye
* Amy Shark - Sunday Sadness
* LIT. MAJOR - I'm Glad This Has Been So Easy For You
* Triple Bogie - Pastiche
* GRLwood - BLOOD
* Yours Truly - TOXIC
* Hazel English - Real Life
* lazydoll - music for ecology
* Quivers - Oyster Cuts
* 38 Spesh - Mother & Gun
* Leathers - Ultraviolet
* DJ Sabrina the Teenage DJ - Hex
* Maude Latour - Sugar Water
* Combat - Stay Golden
* We Are Scorpio - We Are Scorpio
* Maddy Kirgo - Shadow on My Light
* Kathleen Parks - Rolling Down the Line
* KROY - MILITIA
* Google Earth - Street View
* Cloud Cult - Alchemy Creek
* King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard - Flight b741
* That Woman - Find Joy
* Ok Cowgirl - Couldn't Save Us From My Gut
* Kite - VII
* Forest Fallows - Palisades
* Fucked Up - Another Day
* beabadoobee - This is How Tomorrow Moves
* Vicious Dreams - Turn Off My Brain
* naran ratan - Untitled
EPs:
* TORRES and Fruit Bats - A Decoration
* Never Leave - Everyone Asked About You
* Sega Bodega - Reestablishing Connection
* Cowgirl - Cut Offs
* August, Yours Truly - State Secrets
* Inspector 34 - Squint Your Ears
* Sailor Down - maybe we should call it a night
* Saloon Dion - Where You'll Find Me
* Twen - Lucky Onze
* Cecile Believe - Tender the Spark
* Clothesline From Hell - Soon We'll All Be Smoking
* Not Bad Not Well - Blurred Reflections
* London Grammar - Fakest Bitch
Live albums/Compilations/Reissues:
* Justin Townes Earle - ALL IN: Unreleased and Rarities (The New West Years) (A great posthumous compilation from the folkie.)
* Velocity Girl - UltraCopacetic (Copacetic Remixed and Expanded) (Great reissue of an indie classic.)
* Yo Gabba GabbaLand!
* Frank Turner - Undefeated (Acoustic)
Also out:
Features an asymmetrical zip, epaul. A more tailored version of the mens leather jacket, often with a streamlined design and minimal embellishments. ets, and sometimes a belt. Often made from black or dark brown leather. Order now from nyamericanjacket
ReplyDeleteWow just bought a White Fox Hoodie this season and the quality is great. Thank you oskarjacket.
ReplyDelete