Album: Cosmos Forever
Quick Thoughts: The only flaw that exists in this album, in my opinion, is that it's too short. I don't know Lea Thomas's music at all, but this is the sort of slowcore folk stuff that scratches an extremely particular itch for me. While I highlight two great songs here, the whole seven track album is just stellar from beginning to end, and is quickly becoming a recent favorite. A mandatory listen this week.
Songs of Note: "We Must Be In Love," "Bauhinia"
Album: This makes me sad, and I miss you
Quick Thoughts: Circus Trees is a sibling band from Massachusetts and this latest record is a massive step forward in their activity as a band. This feels raw and honest without going overboard, and the production hits well above its weight - "Alone" and "Negative Feedback" in particular kill it. So many songs on this absolutely blew my mind, and I can't wait to get back to this. I hope it's the start of huge things for them.
Songs of Note: "Getting Old," "Negative Feedback," "Alone," "Save Yourself," "Trap Door," "Simple Things," "Wish I Was Fine"
Album: Trusting Theta
Quick Thoughts: In terms of rave-friendly techno, I don't generally push a lot of that up front here for all sorts of reasons, but the latest collection of songs from Or:la deserves to be an exception to that general rule. Sure, it's got enough club bangers to go around, but songs like "Chant" and "Sea Slugs" find a way to feel special and elevated while in a genre that rarely celebrates either. A great listen this week.
Songs of Note: "Chant," "Sea Slugs," "Slay the Beast"
Album: Here Comes Our Wave
Quick Thoughts: The Black Pacific are a punk band featuring members of Pennywise and Dropkick Murphys, and this second album is close to 15 years in the making. As punk rock goes, this is stellar, with a heavy streak to its traditional structure, and songs like "I Think I'm Paranoid" and "Superhero" provide that one-two punch at kickoff that sets a great tone. Even if you're not a huge fan of the acts that made some members famous, any punk fan will find something to love here.
Songs of Note: "I Think I'm Paranoid," "Superhero," "Here We Come," "Here Comes Our Wave"
Album: Five Dice, All Threes
Quick Thoughts: As I listened to this, my wife called out "is this Bright Eyes?" from the other room, and she knows approximately two Bright Eyes songs. So, needless to say, Conor Oberst has become the sort of indie rock voice that is recognizable by a much wider audience, but you'd never know that from this latest effort. The first proper Bright Eyes record since 2020 (and only second since 2011), on one hand, it sounds exactly like what you'd expect, but honestly, it's more like the Cassuaga-era country/folk-tinged stuff (how is "Four Winds" almost 20 years old) or his solo work than, say, the Better Oblivion record with Phoebe Bridgers. For whatever reason, Oberst reminds me of Bob Dylan in delivery both of vocals and lyrics. At this point, you know how you feel about it - for me, this was a solid listen.
Songs of Note: "Bells and Whistles," "Bas Jan Ader," "Reel Feel 105°," "All Threes," "Trains Still Run on Time," "Tin Soldier Boy"
Album: Radios & Rainbows
Quick Thoughts: While most of the big bands of Athens, Georgia have either retired or reconstituted or otherwise faded into the background, Kate Pierson of B-52s has offered up an album at age 76 that a lot of people half her age probably wish they could come even marginally close to. Across the 12 songs here, they're as party-ready as some of the most accessible B-52s work while also finding a way to feel a little more weighty. Her 2015 album was criminally underrated, and this one shouldn't be allowed to fall through the similar cracks. I'm glad she's still out there, doing her thing.
Songs of Note: "Evil Love," "Take Me Back to the Party," "Every Day is Halloween," "Radios and Rainbows," "Higher Place," "Always Till Now," "Living in a Monet"
Album: City Lights
Quick Thoughts: A superduo of Graham Coxon (Blur) and Rose Elinor Dougall (Pipettes) was highly anticipated in these parts, and the debut album more or less delivered even if it didn't have the lasting power I sought. City Lights, in comparison, feels like an album from a band that hit their stride, and it comes with a sound that feels balanced between the Blur-tastic guitar of Coxon and Dougall's evolution as a singer-songwriter post conceptual girl group. This deserves your time in a busy week.
Songs of Note: "City Lights," "You Saw," "Broken Boys"
Album: Orion
Quick Thoughts: My only regret about Orion Sun's latest is that it runs the risk of being overshadowed by some truly great listens this week. This is a gorgeous and delicate record with so many great moments, including a favorite of mine this week, "Sweet." If you like the folk-ish, this needs to be part of your rotation.
Songs of Note: "Mary Jane," "Sweet," "Take My Eyes," "If I Never See You Again," "These Days"
Album: Water Giants
Quick Thoughts: Finally, I wanted to highlight this electronic record that dabbles in experimentalism from time to time and provides a truly interesting effort that stuck with me. You'll know very quickly whether or not this will be for you, but if it is, it will *really* be for you.
Songs of Note: "Cuz You," "Piggy Boys," "Dust Girls"
Of note:
* Lutalo - The Academy (Lots of great indie/alt moments.)
* Fight Dice - Total Party Kill (A sludge album themed around D&D.)
* Honeyglazw - Real Deal (An indie band to watch.)
* Purple Disco Machine - Paradise
* Jamie xx - In Waves
* Daniella Tourgeman and Tomer Baruch - Sfat Olam
* Ed Schrader's Music Beat - Orchestra Hits
* Pearl & the Oysters - Planet Pearl
* BLACKSTARKIDS - Saturn Dayz
* Kaeto - Intro
* Lion Babe - House of Lion Babe
* Giant Walker - Silhouettes
* Jerry Douglas - The Set
* MC Lyte - 1 of 1
* Noga Erez - THE VANDALIST
* FIDLAR - SURVIVING THE DREAM
* Egidio Rondinone - OOPARTS
* We Hate You Please Die - Chamber Songs
* Katy J Pearson - Someday, Now
* Chad Crouch - Reed Canyon Rain Soundwalk
* Tramhaus - The First Exit
* Rrose and Polygonia - Dermatology
* Dave Guy - Ruby
* Joan as Police Woman - Lemons, Limes and Orchids
* LICE - Third Time at the Beach
* Thurston Moore - Flow Critical Lucidity
* The Calamatix - The Calamatix
* Clinic Stars - Only Hinting
* Space Camp - how could i not be your girl?
EPs:
* Siobhan Wilson - Flowercore Vol. 3
* Amy Wiles - Here I Am EP
* Jopy - Planet Zombie
* Oneohtrix Point Never - Collaborations
* Diary - Speedboat
* Alemeda - FK IT
* Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway - Into the Wild
* Josephine Network - Tall Buildings
* Charming Arson - Another Kind of Vision
* Indigo De Souza - WHOLESOME EVIL FANTASY
* Pedro the Lion - Live at The Crumb
* Odetta Hartman - Restoration EP
* Trampled by Turtles - Always Here
* Office Dog - Doggerland
Live albums/Compilations/Reissues:
* Silver Patron Saints: The Sons of Jesse Malin
Also out:
* The Incomplete Orchestra - Letters for the M.A.I.L.man
* cropscropscrops - Long-Light Derecho
* The Voidz - Like All Before You
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