Durand Jones: Wait Til I Get Over [Album Review]

Durand JonesWait Til I Get OverDead Oceans [2023] Durand Jones is the lead vocalist of the modern soul band Durand Jones & The Indications, which has released three solid studio albums including their self-titled debut in 2016. Wait Til I Get Over is his debut release as a solo artist that showcases Jones’ smooth and … Read more

Video Premiere: Novelty Island – “Bootlegs”

TFN video premiere today is from the Liverpool-based Novelty Island, which is the solo project of Tom McConnell, a multi-instrumentalist and clever songwriter that creates musically versatile indie-pop songs. The new single and video, “Bootlegs,” is from their latest release, Wallsend Weekend Television via 9×9 Records which is the follow up LP to their 2021 … Read more

Velvet Crush: Teenage Symphonies To God [Classic Album Revisit]

Velvet CrushTeenage Symphonies To God550 Music/Epic Records Released: July 5, 1994Producer: Mitch Easter, Velvet CrushLength: 46:00 Velvet Crush’s Teenage Symphonies To God is an album that deserves to be held in high esteem by fans of power pop and classic rock alike. Released in 1994, the album is a tour de force of catchy hooks, … Read more

Video Premiere: Thee Oh Sees – “Block Of Ice” (Live @ Levitation 2012)

Thee Oh Sees have always set the bar high with their high-energy live performances and experimental, psychedelic sound. Back in 2012, Thee Oh Sees made their first appearance at Austin Psych Fest, performing an electrified set at Emo’s East. The first of the band’s many LEVITATION appearances down in Austin, this show has been selected … Read more

The National: First Two Pages Of Frankenstein [Album Review]

The NationalFirst Two Pages Of Frankenstein4AD [2023] The National’s ninth studio album, First Two Pages Of Frankenstein, derives its title from a moment deep in singer Matt Berninger’s bout with writer’s block. To break the lock, he will often grab a book off the shelf just to get some words in his head. In this … Read more

Crocodiles: Upside Down In Heaven [Album Review]

CrocodilesUpside Down In HeavenLolipop Records [2023] Crocodiles’ Upside Down In Heaven is an album that showcases the band’s signature noise-pop sound, but with a more mature and refined approach. The core duo of Brandon Welchez and Charles Rowell have covered many genres that include art-punk, psychedelic haze, lush 60s-inspired pop, and trashed-out glam but their … Read more

superviolet: Infinite Spring [Album Review]

supervioletInfinite SpringLame-O Records [2023] superviolet is the moniker for Ohio-based songwriter and former The Sidekicks frontman Steven Ciolek. Infinite Spring is his debut record and its more acoustic approach marks a departure from his previous band’s work of energetic guitar driven melodies with punk rock influences. What still exists with Ciolek is his emotionally raw … Read more

Video Premiere: The Wilful Boys – “New Job”

TFN is excited today to premiere a new video from Brooklyn-based band The Wilful Boys. They released their album, World Ward Word Sword on Big Neck Records last summer but now the band is back with this video for “New Job!” The track is from the album and the band recently announced their spot at … Read more

Hayden: Are We Good [Album Review]

HaydenAre We GoodArts & Crafts [2023] Hayden is a Canadian singer-songwriter known for his introspective and emotive lyrics, melodic sensibilities, and his ability to create a warm and inviting atmosphere in his music. One of his most well-known albums is Everything I Long For, which was released in 1995 and featured the indie hit “Bad … Read more

Fire Track Premiere: Toy City – “Mountains”

Team Clermont · Toy City “Mountains” Today’s Fire Track premiere is another solid creation that came to fruition from the pandemic. With both film production stopped in LA, and the NY art scene froze, filmmaker Paul Burke and sculptor Steve Shaheen pivoted back to songwriting and Toy City was formed. Friends since performing in the … Read more

Video Premiere: Crocodiles – “Upside Down In Heaven”

Today’s premiere video marks the return of San Diego noise pop outfit Crocodiles (Brandon Welchez and Charles Rowell). “Upside Down In Heaven” is the title track and third single which corresponds with the release of the new LP today on Lolipop Records. The video is a fantastic satire and snapshot of some old school church … Read more

Fire Track Premiere: Fox Apts. – “Roaring Spring”

Team Clermont · Fox Apts. “Roaring Spring” Today’s premiere Fire Track comes from Fox Apts. The band calls California home and is comprised of lead singer Dave Kajganich, guitarist and bassist Jerry Popiel, and drummer Tom Stickley. Fire Track “Roaring Spring” has a great dark stomp to it as it rides a balance of indie … Read more

Connections: Cool Change [Album Review]

ConnectionsCool ChangeTrouble In Mind Records [2023] Connections have established a strong position on the indie music scene since 2013 with five full lengths and a handful of 7″s released over the span of six years. Now, five years has passed since their last release, Foreign Affairs (2018), and the band has made a glorious rock … Read more

The Lost Days: In The Store [Album Review]

The Lost DaysIn The StoreSpeakeasy Studios SF [2023] After meeting at a memorial for a mutual friend, Tony Molina (Ovens) and Sarah Rose Janko (Dawn Riding) started spending time together playing guitar and singing their hearts out. This was the beginning of The Lost Days and after their 5-song Lost Demos EP was released in … Read more

Gee Tee: Goodnight Neanderthal [Album Review]

Gee TeeGoodnight NeanderthalUrge/Goner Records [2023] Sydney’s Kel Mason is the man behind the spastic lo-fi punk sounds of Gee Tee. He has released a multitude of music under this moniker since 2016 and has grown his underground following with every new release. Gee Tee’s newest long player, Goodnight Neanderthal, formalizes all his past work and … Read more

Shana Cleveland: Manzanita [Album Review]

Shana ClevelandManzanitaHardly Art Records [2023] Manzanita is the common name for a kind of small evergreen tree endemic to California which has strong medicinal properties. It is a fitting title for the newest solo album from La Luz’s Shana Cleveland as the record displays a gorgeousness that will instantly change your state of mind in … Read more

Jack Harlon & The Dead Crows: Hail To The Underground [Album Review]

Jack Harlon & The Dead CrowsHail To The UndergroundBlues Funeral Recordings [2023] I will fully admit that I am a very hard sell on cover albums. I have always felt that this type of record, no matter who the artist, has novelty act qualities automatically built into its creation because you can go to any … Read more

Tee Vee Repairmann: What’s On TV? [Album Review]

Tee Vee RepairmannWhat’s On TV?Computer Human/Total Punk Records [2023] Australia’s Ishka Edmeades is involved with a multitude of bands that includes Satanic Togas, Set-Top Box, Research Reactor Corporation, Gee Tee, Remote Control, Mainframe, and 3D & The Holograms – and the list keeps growing. Well, besides all of that work, Edmeades has now released his … Read more

Video Premiere: Mike Stinson & Johnny Irion – “The Bottle And Me”

Sometimes projects just take a long time to come together. In the mid 90s, Mike Stinson and Johnny Irion lived and wrote songs in an old farmhouse behind a rehearsal studio called The Alley. Their friend, the late Andy Butler-Jones of the prog band Bigelf, also contributed to the songwriting process as he was inspired … Read more

Fire Track Premiere: POSH SWAT (John Dwyer/OSEES) – “The Spent Sadist”

WARNING: Do not adjust your speakers for today’s premiere Fire Track. The sounds you are hearing from POSH SWAT are real, funky, and potentially from another planet! Alright, not from another planet but POSH SWAT is the newest project by John Dwyer (OSEES), Ryan Sawyer, and Andres Renteria, so you know to prepare yourself for … Read more

The Men: New York City [Album Review]

The MenNew York CityFuzz Club Records [2023] Brooklyn’s The Men put out several fantastic punk records back in the early 2010’s and then over the last 10 years have expanded their sound into more indie friendly areas that even included a touch of Americana. Their recent material has been solid but I fully admit that … Read more

R. Ring: War Poems, We Rested [Album Review]

R. RingWar Poems, We RestedDon Giovanni Records [2023] War Poems, We Rested is the sophomore record from R. Ring and it is the band’s first full-length release since their excellent 2017 album Ignite The Rest. The group features the always engaging Kelley Deal (of The Breeders) and the talented musician/Candyland Recording Studio Owner/Engineer Mike Montgomery … Read more

Ex Pilots: Ex Pilots [Album Review]

Ex PilotsEx PilotsSmoking Room [2023] Recorded at home between 2009 – 2019, Pittsburgh’s Ethan Oliva, aka Ex Pilots, gives recording credit of his self-titled debut to Logic Pro, a Korg CR-4, a 424 mk II and an MF-P01. That jargon may not mean much to many but when you are easily hooked on anything 4-track … Read more

Dead Meadow: Force Form Free [Album Review]

Dead MeadowForce Form FreeBlues Funeral Recordings [2022] Formed in the fall of 1998, Dead Meadow rose out of the Washington, D.C. indie/punk scene and have continued to evolve their sound through each record into the heavy modern psych you hear today. This psych path was highlighted on their Levitation Session album that was released in … Read more

Houseghost: Another Realm [Album Review]

HouseghostAnother RealmRad Girlfriend Records [2022] Another Realm is the sophomore album from punk group Houseghost out of Dayton, Ohio. The trio is made up of drummer Tyler Beaty (Goon, Break Yourself), guitarist/vocalist Nick Hamby (The Raging Nathans), and bassist/vocalist Kayla Hamby. The record was released in mid December of last year and is definitely worth … Read more