First Listen: New Releases for 14 March 2025

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Artist: clipping.
Album:
Quick Thoughts: clipping. is back after another few years away, and it's a pretty solid reminder that they're without a doubt one of the better hip-hop acts out there. Whether it's just the speed in which Daveed Diggs raps or whether it's production that leans heavily on a lot of sounds not often heard in hip-hop, this is just a great reminder that they're on another level. Let's hope it's not another five years before we get another hit.
Songs of Note: "Change the Channel," "Run It," "Code," "Dodger," "Welcome Home Warrior"

Artist: terraplana
Album: natural
Quick Thoughts: It's a short week all things considered, but I wanted to call out terraplana as a great Brazilian act doing a grungy, gazey record with a ton to love. It's a short, quick hit but hits so well and was a memorable listen overall. Don't skip it.
Songs of Note: "charie," "todo dia," "horas iguais"

Artist: Chase Petra
Album: Lullabies for Dogs
Quick Thoughts: We missed this one from earlier this year, and it deserves some of your time. It's definitely got an early aughts emo feel to it that reminds me more than a little bit of the Dashboard Confessional approach without the cringeworthy earnestness. This is just very good and extremely addictive on a number of levels - check it out.
Songs of Note: "Catharsis," "Have Faith, Horatio," "Bread and Circus," "Because I Am My Own Dog"

Of note:

* Circuit des Yeux - Halo on the Inside (A solid, intriguing listen.)
* Whatever the Weather - Whatever the Weather II
* Nels Cline - Consentrik Quartet
* cootie catcher - Shy at First
* Steven Wilson - The Overview
* MEGA-G - Return of the Boom Bap
* KEG - Fun's Over
* Philip Golub and Lesley Mok - dream brigade
* Etienne de Crecy - WARM UP
* T. Gowdy - Trill Scan
* Cameron Keiber - Nurser
* The Secret Chord - Generation X
* Ging Nang Boyz - Blew Blue
* Throwing Muses - Moonlight Concessions
* St. Lucia - Fata Morgana: Dawn
* Penelope Scott - Water Dogs
* Sodl - Sheepman
* Edwyn Collins - Nation Shall Speak Unto Nation
* Charley Crockett - Lonesome Drifter
* BAMBARA -Birthmarks
* Intensive Care and The Body - Was I Good Enough?
* Canyons and Locusts - The Goal Gigolo
* Dead Bandit - Dead Bandit
* Joni Void - Every Life is a Light
* flatroom !! - You Will Only Get Older

EPs:

* Alix Page - Bug
* Flora from Kansas - Homesick
* Chainlacing - Attersee EP
* Fake Dad - Holly Wholesome and the Slut Machine
* Miss Ipad - my stuff
* Shruti Khobes - Still.
* Dana Garavanski - Again Again
* Shefu - Shefu
* The Waeve - Eternal EP
* Anoushkra Shankar, Alam Khan, and Sarathy Korwar - Chapter III: We Return to Light
* Bloodshot Bill and Gerard Van Herk - shot of blood EP
* Jointjay and DJ Shon - knock knock

Live albums/Compilations/Reissues:

* Of Montreal - The Sunlandic Twins (20th Anniversary Edition) (Holds up!)
* Home Free (Soundtrack)
* Into a World of Progressive (Mixed by Robilardo)
* fabric Presents Laurent Garnier: Into the Low End

Also out:

* koreancrashout - Sydney

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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Live Shows: Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys, Eight Foot Manchild, and Lovina Falls, The Sinclair, Cambridge, MA 7/12/25

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One of my favorite things is going to see a diverse live bill. Anyone can put together a show with three pop punk bands on it, but it's a challenge (and far more interesting) to put three unique bands on the same show and have it work out perfectly. Saturday night at The Sinclair saw the steamcrunk of Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys, doombrass heroes Eight Foot Manchild, and the baroque pop of Lovina Falls, and it was perfect. Opening the show was Lovina Falls, the current musical project of Valerie Forgione of Mistle Thrush. This was my third or fourth time seeing them in just a few months, and I'm still entertained every time. It's been interesting to watch Lovina Falls adjust and discover their sound over the past two or so years, and I think they've nailed their current sound down. It's an engaging blend of the baroque pop they started out with mixed with a more rock based sound. Songs like "Ellery Way" and "Vaulted" continue to ...
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