2nd GradeEasy ListeningDouble Double Whammy [2022] Philadelphia’s 2nd Grade have returned with another fantastic dose of short burst power pop earworms on their third album Easy Listening. Musically and lyrically, Easy Listening is like a tribute record to some of the best in the genre that should bring to mind Teenage Fanclub, Big Star, Flamin’ … Read more
Beth OrtonWeather AlivePartisan Records [2022] When Beth Orton came on the scene in the mid-nineties with her mix of folk and electronica, aided by then boyfriend and producer William Orbit, it was her distinctive vocals and provocative poetic lyrics that made her music special. The British singer/songwriter went on to collaborate with the techno band … Read more
MercylandWe Never Lost A Single GamePropeller Sound Recordings [2022] Before David Barbe recorded three studio albums next to Bob Mould in his band Sugar, he was in another post-punk trio out of Athens, GA, Mercyland. Schooled in the fine art of studio engineering and record production by John Keane, Barbe and a couple others opened … Read more
MJ LendermanBoat SongsDear Life Records [2022] Sometimes having too much music in a review stack can be a hindrance because you just know that you have overlooked something. It happens all the time around TFN because we are such a lean run machine as the third record from MJ Lenderman, which was released back in … Read more
Mike Adams At His Honest WeightGraphic BlandishmentJoyful Noise Recordings [2022] In spite of the inevitable earworm infestation, power-pop has proven to be one of the most reliable and long-lasting musical genre trends. Early British Invasion bands laid the groundwork, and iconic bands like Big Star, Cheap Trick, Weezer, and my personal favorite Material Issue have … Read more
Alex GGod Save The AnimalsDomino [2022] God Save The Animals is Alex Giannascoli’s, aka Alex G, ninth album at the young age of 29. He has been a staple on the indie DIY scene for years now and continues to push his own boundaries as a singer songwriter with every release. With God Save The … Read more
The MurlocsRapscallionATO Records [2022] The Murlocs have returned quickly since last year’s more piano driven Bittersweet Demons album with a batch of rock n’ roll that may represent some of their most frantic psych-tinged concoctions yet. The Melbourne five-piece never feels like a side project even though its members have duties in other bands especially … Read more
Flogging MollyAnthemRise Records [2022] Although they were formed in Los Angeles in the late 90’s, Flogging Molly is a Celtic rock band led by Irish-born lead singer and songwriter Dave King. Taking their name from the first Irish pub that supported the band, Flogging Molly has followed the time-honored path of bands like The Pogues … Read more
King’s XThree Sides Of OneInside Out Music [2022] When a band with a 40-plus year history and a modest but devoted following returns to the recording studio for the first time in 14 years, you can expect heightened expectations among their most ardent fans. Such is the case for King’s X, a rock power trio … Read more
WhitneySPARKSecretly Canadian [2022] SPARK represents Whitney’s third album of originals and fourth LP overall with 2020’s cover record Candid. The Chicago duo of Julien Ehrlich and Max Kakacek have continued to evolve their warm 70’s soft rock sound and with each album have taken a bigger musical step forward. SPARK for sure highlights this expansive … Read more
Rhett MillerThe MisfitATO Records [2022] When Rhett Miller recorded his solo debut in 1989 with his friend and producer Murry Hammond, the two had not yet imagined that they’d go on to form Old 97’s – Miller on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Hammond on bass – and record a dozen albums over the course … Read more
The BethsExpert In A Dying FieldCarpark Records [2022] With the release of their third studio outing, Auckland, New Zealand, power-pop/indie rock quartet The Beths are three for three. In 2018, Future Me Hates Me found vocalist/songwriter Elizabeth Stokes delivering powerful melodies, big power-pop guitars, and delightful vocal harmonies from the boys in the band, a … Read more
The Black AngelsWilderness Of MirrorsPartisan Records [2022] The psychedelic sounds of The Black Angels have been darkening our ears ever since their excellent first album Passover released in 2006. I would have been 20 years old at that point and while I was familiar with classic psychedelic sounds, I’d never heard a band go that … Read more
BoonBad MachineWindow Sill Records [2022] Bad Machine, the fourth album from Philadelphia experimental rock and pop band Boon, is the second release from the now established quartet of Brendan Principato, Drew Sher, Andy Senken, and Dan Lynch. On the album’s first single, “Talking To” the bright guitar tones weave together like the poppier side of … Read more
Built To SpillWhen The Wind Forgets Your NameSub Pop Records [2022] Since its inception in 1992, Built To Spill and founder Doug Martsch can undoubtedly be called consistent. Martsch doesn’t make a bad record which is simply proved by going back and listening to any album in Built To Spill’s catalog. There definitely are some … Read more
The Afghan WhigsHow Do You Burn?Royal Cream/BMG [2022] Greg Dulli has led The Afghan Whigs, which originally formed in Cincinnati, through two distinct yet memorable periods. The singer songwriter once described the band’s sonic ethos as an attempt to bring together the musical sensibilities of The Band, The Temptations, and Neil Young’s Crazy Horse, revealing … Read more
Interpol | Spoon w/ Seratones; Lights, Camera, Factions Tour: KEMBA Live!; Columbus, OH; Tuesday, August 30, 2022 Tuesday evening’s outdoor concert was not only a great way to end the summer concert season, but it was a case study in two very different approaches to live music performance from two very different bands. The co-headline bill … Read more
GA-20CrackdownColemine/Karma Chief Records [2022] Crackdown is the third LP from blues, roots-rock, and country revival trio GA-20. The album expands on their previous sound and blows out your speakers with a modern electric blues that honors the past but feels imaginably modern. What GA-20 are good at is making the blues spread across other genres. … Read more
Ezra FurmanAll Of Us FlamesANTI- [2022] Singer/songwriter Ezra Furman draws the title of her 7th album from the song “Book of Our Names,” a declaration from the marginalized trans community where she insists “the names will be our real ones that are ours/Not the ones given us by the enemy powers.” Given the disposable nature … Read more
The BerriesHigh Flying ManRun For Cover Records [2022] High Flying Man is the third LP by Matt Berry’s pseudo-eponymous project The Berries. The album shows a progression in songwriting and song structure which results in The Berries best LP to date. The album is a very straightforward rock record which I really like. Its songs … Read more
GordiInhuman (EP)Jagjaguwar [2022] Gordi is the stage name adopted by Sophie Payten, an Australian artist once described as “folktronica,” for her unique mix of simple acoustic folk songs with lush atmospheric electronica and the heavy reverb and studio effects that give her voice an otherworldly feel. “Way I Go” opens with a strummed acoustic guitar, … Read more
Tall DwarfsUnravelled: 1981 – 2002 (Box Set)Merge Records [2022] Curiously, I’ve come across a number of American bands who might have 3 albums in their catalog even though they’re playing to small crowds here at home, yet their bio suggests that they’re “big in New Zealand.” Well, Tall Dwarfs are actually a New Zealand band … Read more
Ben HarperBloodline MaintenanceChrysalis Records [2022] Ben Harper’s longevity as an artist has been enriched by a series of smart collaborations. Known for favoring a Weissenborn lap slide guitar and opening for Dave Matthews’ Band and discovering Jack Johnson, Harper won jam band fans early on, before he and Johnson performed with reggae royalty Toots & … Read more
CheekfaceToo Much To AskSelf-Released [2022] Los Angeles band Cheekface is back quickly with their third album Too Much To Ask and once again it is a lyrical play on words master class that relies heavily on guitarist/singer Greg Katz. His delivery is incredibly important as his humor stirs with point blank reality. This real talk … Read more
Cass McCombsHeartmindANTI- [2022] There are some musical artists who are all heart, they play to the emotions, wear their feelings on their sleeves, seek to win over the crowd with heart-felt appeals to commonly shared emotions. Some others are all mind, focused on craft and eager to impress with impressive vocabulary, smart arrangements that tease … Read more