Thomas Wilde 
Lucy DacusHome VideoMatador Records [2021] Lucy Dacus returns with her third album, Home Video, and it arrives at a perfect time as her profile on the indie scene has only increased since her excellent 2018 sophomore record Historian. With the skyrocket success of her collaborative partner Phoebe Bridgers and their side project boygenius with Julien … Read more
Modest MouseThe Golden CasketEpic Records [2021] The Golden Casket is Modest Mouse’s seventh-studio album which explores the degradation of America’s psychic landscape through the glass of the smartphone screen. With such a heavy message, this record could take you down a never ending rabbit hole but instead I find the 12 tracks working to find … Read more
PardonerCame Down DifferentBar/None Records [2021] It is not hard to look around to find indie rock but it’s always exciting to find an album that takes it to the next level. That is the one line I would use to describe San Francisco’s Pardoner and their third LP, Came Down Different. The band takes a … Read more
The Routes MesmerisedAction Weekend / Bickerton Records [2021] The Routes are exactly why the quote “rock n’ roll can never die” exists. Mesmerised represents the eighth long-player to date from the Japan based group and it is a blast of sixties-influenced garage beat rock that has a DIY approach with its brashness, high octane energy … Read more
Beachy HeadBeachy HeadGraveface Records [2021] Beachy Head is a new group but it features members of Slowdive, The Flaming Lips, The Casket Girls, The Soft Cavalry, Mojave 3, Monster Movie and Minor Victories. That collective resume should be enough to make any indie fan take notice and the music on their debut rewards those that … Read more
Jeff RosenstockSKA DREAMPolyvinyl Records [2021] A good song is a good song. That is why single covers work so many times for artists. Full album covers can be a bit harder but when an artist puts their own spin on it typically it makes for a good listen. Many times after the novelty wears off … Read more
Guided By VoicesEarth Man BluesGBV Inc. [2021] The 33rd Guided By Voices album, Earth Man Blues, is one of the most in sync records that members Pollard, Gillard, Bare Jr., Shue and March have released together. For those not as familiar with the band, you might question how this could be since so many groups … Read more
CIVICFuture ForecastFlightless Records [2021] Melbourne and Flightless Records have been one of the main reasons psych music has risen above ground the last several years but don’t pigeon hole the label because they have some great other artists of their roster that are outside the genre. One of those is CIVIC, as their melody filled … Read more
Spirit Of The BeehiveENTERTAINMENT, DEATHSaddle Creek Records [2021] The saying always goes that change is good. If you are a believer in that moto then the new Spirit Of The Beehive record will strike your interest. For the Philadelphia band there is plenty of “change” that runs throughout their fourth LP, ENTERTAINMENT, DEATH, and it … Read more
HooveriiiWater For The FrogsThe Reverberation Appreciation Society [2021] At this point in 2021, if your band hails from Australia, Los Angeles or Austin it won’t surprise anyone if your specialty is psychedelia. That leads us to LA’s Hooveriii (pronounced Hoover 3), which you can add to your psychedelic rolodex as the group brings their own … Read more
Dry CleaningNew Long Leg4AD [2021] New Long Leg is London-based band Dry Cleaning’s debut album and it easily was one of the most anticipated releases of 2021 after their pair of excellent EPs released in 2019. It is record of control as the group mesmerizes you with background guitar runs fronted by the modern spoken … Read more
SmirkLPDrunken Sailor/Feel It Records [2021] Smirk is the solo project of Nick Vicario (Public Eye, Crisis Man, Autistic Youth), and while you’ll hear similarities to some of his past more punk bands these 12 tracks from his new record titled LP, highlight Vicario having fun at this point in his career. Smirk has a much … Read more
TriptidesAlter EchoesAlive Natural Sound Records [2021] The current streaming generation, for the most part, does not seem to really like listening to one album all the way through let alone develop artist loyalty. It is just the times I guess but there are plenty of past groups that would never have “made it” if they … Read more
GlittererLife Is Not A LessonANTI- [2021] Washington, D.C. resident and northeastern Pennsylvania native Ned Russin co-fronted Title Fight for many years before the band went on hiatus and Russin became Glitterer. So far, Glitterer has self-released two EP’s and his 2019 ANTI- debut LP Looking Through The Shades. That brings us to the rowdy and … Read more
Julien BakerLittle OblivionsMatador Records [2021] “Until then I’ll split the difference / Between medicine and poison / Take what I can get away with / While it burns right through my stomach” is just one of the very first devastating lyrics you will hear from Julien Baker on the opening track “Hardline” from her third … Read more
The Martha’s Vineyard FerriesSuns Out Guns OutErnest Jenning Record Co. [2021] The Martha’s Vineyard Ferries have one of the best indie rock resumes in the game and they completely flex a high level talent on their new album Suns Out Guns Out. The group features bassist/vocalist Bob Weston (Volcano Suns, Shellac. Mission Of Burma), drummer/vocalist … Read more
Cub Scout Bowling PinsHeaven Beats IowaGBV Inc. [2021] It didn’t take too long before Cub Scout Bowling Pins was revealed to be the current lineup of Guided By Voices. That news of course heightened the excitement behind the release of this EP, Heaven Beats Iowa. That elation is because if you have followed the storied … Read more
CheekfaceEmphatically No.New Professor Music [2021] Los Angeles band Cheekface has returned with their sophomore album Emphatically No. and it is an entertaining listen from front to back. It is an album that completely soars on its lyrics as guitarist/talk singer Greg Katz provides a swagger mix of humor and honesty as the band tackles all … Read more
OseesPanther RotateCastle Face Records [2020] Anymore it is almost a given that some of John Dwyer’s output will lean towards the experimental side of things. Especially, after the visceral release of Protean Threat, it only makes sense that Panther Rotate was billed as a remix album of its big brother. Turns out, Panther Rotate is … Read more
Jason HennJazz Pigs In High SchoolCara Records [2020] Over the past 12 years, Jason Henn has been writing and recording compact and catchy lo-fi pop songs under the moniker of Honey Radar. Now without his band mates, Jazz Pigs In High School is Henn’s first solo record under his own name. Like most solo records, … Read more
The ChivesThe ChivesSuper Wimpy Punch [2020] Sometimes shit just comes together. That statement can apply to so many things like money, relationships, projects and occasionally – music. Case in point today is the Boston garage punk collective called The Chives. The group is made up of members from bands Blue Ray, Brittle Brian, Squitch, and … Read more
KarkaraNowhere LandStolen Body Records [2020] 2020 will forever go down as the year psych-rock exploded more into the indie scene with a multitude of quality releases. Karkara is next up as the trio from Toulouse, France have launched their sophomore effort Nowhere Land. The band had the idea that their sound was that of a … Read more
SUPER-XSUPER-XPolaks/Spoilsport Records [2020] Melbourne’s SUPER-X is propelled by brothers Harrison and George Ottaway on muscle flexed guitars while being glued together by Kaelan Emond’s roaring drums. Their self-titled debut has been in the works for 5 years but the fantastic wall of fuzzy post-punk war they wage here was 110% worth the wait. The best … Read more
The Budos BandLong In The ToothDaptone Records [2020] Celebrating 15 years from the release of their debut album, The Budos Band return with their 6th long player, Long In The Tooth. It is an album that changes gears from their harder edge they showed the last couple albums but especially as they raged out on … Read more
Holy MotorsHorseWharf Cat Records [2020] Estonia’s Holy Motors sophomore record, Horse, is an easy listen as singer/songwriter Eliann Tulve puts you into a perfect indie trance with her soft Mazzy Star like vocals. Combine this with the groups slight Americana twang and Horse quietly blows by like a lonely tumbleweed on a deserted highway. Holy … Read more