Album: Hopeless Nostalgic
Quick Thoughts: I don't know if Savior Faire is making any sort of mainstream moves with their latest record, but this demonstrates once more how absolutely gorgeous this local act's music can be, and how their songs are ready for a larger audience. "Machine With a Dream" feels like a hit, "Think Twice" the sort of pseudo-alt-noir that you come to expect from the act, and I'm just loving everything that's happening here. A great listen for the beginning of the year.
Songs of Note: "How It's Supposed to Feel," "Only Fools (Betarseed)," "Machine With a Dream," "In Flux," "Think Twice"
Album: The Purple Bird
Quick Thoughts: I won't lie, Bonny "Prince" Billy hasn't always hit with me. The Purple Bird, however, is very much a traditional country record and it's one that Will Oldham settles into extremely well. "Turned to Dust" and "The Water's Fine" are immediate earworms, but it's the entirety of this album that has turned me into a fan 20 years too late. Don't miss this one.
Songs of Note: "Turned to Dust (Rolling On)," "Tonight With the Dogs I'm Sleeping," "The Water's Fine," "Guns Are For Cowards," "One of These Days (I'm Gonna Spend the Whole Night With You)"
Album: The Ballad of the Natural Lines
Quick Thoughts: We love Matt Pond PA here, and while the band toyed with a rename to The Natural Lines a few years back, this album, in some ways, closes one chapter while starting another. As usual, there are some gorgeous indie rock songs on this record, and, as usual, the whole record is just a masterclass in well-crafted indie rock. Very glad this album exists, and it's a favorite of the early year.
Songs of Note: "Goldie," "The Ballad of the Natural Lines," "Korea," "Living Room Stage"
Album: Sharon Van Etten and The Attachment Theory
Quick Thoughts: Sharon Van Etten notably incorporated her entire band into the creation of this record, which gives it a more immediate and grimy flair in comparison to her typical fare. The design works wonderfully, however, because it really brings the full package into perspective and offers some of Van Etten's most catchy songs yet, particularly "Afterlife" and "Southern Life." Absolutely worth your time.
Songs of Note: "Afterlife," "Idiot Box," "Southern Life (What It Must Be Like)," "I Want You Here"
Album: Raw Muscular Power
Quick Thoughts: If you ask me, we need more borderline-inappropriate band names in the universe. Death by Unga Bunga isn't taking things terribly seriously, but you should take their music as such anyway: this is a finely crafted punk-adjacent car crash that I fell in love with in the course of minutes. Make some room in the rotation for this, you won't regret it.
Songs of Note: "Raw Muscular Power," "Starchild," "Therapy," "Dogs of Hell," "Trembling," "I'm Going on Vacation"
Album: Der Traum Uber Alles
Quick Thoughts: I don't know if there's a name for the sort of party punk rock that I feel like had a good moment in indie circles back in the aughts, but Avalanche Party would qualify. I had a lot of fun with this one - "Shake the Shack" is a real keeper, but the whole album just feels fun and groovy in all the best ways.
Songs of Note: "Nureyev Said It Best," "Shake the Shack," "Ecstacy," "Collateral Damage"
Of note:
* Weekend Affair - Vol Interieur (Electro-infused indie from France.)
* Adawaith - Solas (Welsh indie rock super-sized album.)
* Michigander - Michigander (Mainstream-ready indie pop.)
* The Jellybricks - Dreaming in Stereo (Power pop lives!)
* Nadia Reid - Enter Now Brightness
* FACS - Wish Defense
* Oklou - choke enough
* MindsOne - Stages
* Jako Maron - Mahavelouz
* The Moles - Composition Book
* Is Tropical - Cola Spirit
* Rats on Rafts - Deep Below
* AJ Suede - The Duke of Downtempo
* Baby Lasagna - DMNS & MOSQUITOES
* Ali Omar - Hashish Hits
* Dropkick - Primary Colours
* HONESTY - U R HERE
* Eliza Waters - monad
* KAWALA - KAWALA Collection
* Horsebath - Another Farewell
* Shannon Wright - Reservoir of Love
* Sevish - One With the Fractal
* Ken Ikeda - Sacred Offering
* Krept and Konan - Young Kingz II
* The Laughing Chimes - Whispers in the Speech Machine
* Tired Girl - Tired
* Memory Pearl - Cosmic-Astral
* Scratch Massive - Nox Anima
* Prison - Downstate
* Architectural - Good Night, Whatever That Is
* MIKE - Showbiz!
* Adult Friends - Find Me In the Inferno
* Ben Seretan - astral projecting into flavortown
* General Magic - Bosko
* Kelsy Karter and The Heroines - Love Made Me Do It
* Sarah and the Sundays - Like a Damn Dog
* Penny and Sparrow - Lefty
* Basspunk - Bassvictim
* Ada Rook - Unkillable Angel
* DYAN - Midwest
* Qing Madi - I am the Blueprint
* L. S. Dunes - Violet
* Charlie Houston - Big After I Die
* Kim Wilde - Closer
* Heartworms - Glutton for Punishment
* Chad Crouch - Copalis Ghost Forest Soundwalk
* Ocean Moon - Ways to the Deep Meadow
* Assistant - Certain Memories
* Lilly Hiatt - Forever
* Decius - Decius Vol. II
* Last Train - III
* Austin Ward - Steel Wool
* Brooke Combe - Dancing at the Edge of the World
* Bikini Beach - Cursed
* Guided by Voices - Universe Room
* The Witches' Hymnal - The Witches' Hymnal
* Low Roar - House in the Woods
* Heather Maloney - Exploding Star
* Traxman - Da Mind of Traxman Vol.3
* Biig Piig - 11:11
* Jaye Jayle - After Alter
* Rosa Bordallo - Isidro
* Tw3Lv3 - Late Night Frequencies, Vol. 1
* GRMLN - Another Being
* Night Party - All That Fades
* Skeleten - Mentalized
* Francois and The Atlas Mountains - Age Fleuve
* Biche - B.I.C.H.E.
* Helen Ganya - Share Your Care
* Squid - Cowards
* Christian Winther - Sculptures From Under the City Ice
* Pink Siifu - BLACK'!ANTIQUE
* Sleeper's Bell - Clover
* Bjarki - A Guide to a Hellthier Lifestyle
EPs:
* Ambrose Akinmusire - honey from a winter stone
* chlothegod - I Feel Different Every Day
* Jackie Extreme - Residue (one)
* Teenage Priest - Tails
* Manic Street Preachers - Brushstrokes of Reunion
* Sweet Pill - Unraveled
* Hush Kids - Gorgeous Thing
* Peacebone - Blame the Bird
* Jack White - No Name Live
* Tristen - Zenith
* Ruby Duff - Where Do Odd Socks Go?
* Quiet Light - Pure Hearts
Live albums/Compilations/Reissues:
* Drop Nineteens - 1991 (Reissue of their 1991 demo tapes.)
* The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Perfect Right Now: A Slumberland Collection 2008-2010)
* Madvillain - Madvillainy Demos
* Pye Corner Audio - Where Things Are Hollow: No Tomorrow
* DJ Foreign Money - Serve the Base
* Global Underground: Select #10<[>
Also out:
* Da Mouth of Madness - The Remarkable Life of Da Mouth of Madness
* The Weeknd - Hurry Up Tomorrow
* Johnnyswim - When the War is Over
* The Rumjacks - Dead Anthems
* Handsome Gentlemen - By Handsome Gentlemen
* Forget the Whale - The Devil You Know
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