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 War On Drugs LIVE DRUGSSuper High Quality Records [2020] In a year when we’ve all had to forego live concerts, it feels like a gift that The War On Drugs took a break from the creation of their follow-up to 2017’s Grammy-winning Rock Album of the Year, A Deeper Understanding, to offer up a … Read more
Chris Stapleton Starting OverMercury Records Nashville [2020] Like many country music artists, Chris Stapleton had already co-written several hit songs for and with artists like Kenny Chesney and George Strait before launching a solo career with his very successful debut, 2015’s Traveller. While his country music bona fides have been locked down tight since day … 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
Population IIÀ la Ô TerreCastle Face Records [2020] It seems that 2020 has been the year for the power psych genre to move from the shadows and into the spotlight. Montreal’s, Population II is the newest in the genre with their Castle Face Records debut LP À la Ô Terre. The name of the group … Read more
SmokescreensA Strange DreamSlumberland Records [2020] You would never guess that the Smokescreens are from Los Angeles because their tender sounding classic indie pop is right from the pages of bands like The Chills and The Bats on New Zealand’s Flying Nun label. Smokescreens have all the pieces with an acoustic and electric guitar blend, upfront … Read more
The Flower KingsIslandsInside Out Music [2020] A global pandemic may not be the most pleasant of origin stories but the new double album from Sweden’s The Flower Kings argues that from great struggle often comes greater returns. At this point in his career Roine Stolt (the band’s leader, singer, songwriter, guitarist, etc.) has absolutely nothing … 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
Love Coma Love ComaSelf-Released [2020] Evidently, San Antonio, TX-band, Love Coma have some unfinished business. Formed in the early 90’s by Chris Taylor, Matt Slocum, and Chris Dodds, they released an album on the indie label Etcetera Records, Soul Rash in ’93. Slocum departed shortly to start the band Sixpence None the Richer with singer … 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
Jeff Tweedy Love Is The KingdBpm Records [2020] If you are looking for a silver-lining here in the eighth month of this long COVID fever dream, perhaps you can find some solace in the number of artists that have used this down time to push back against the surrounding darkness and shine the light of … Read more
FUZZIIIIn The Red Records [2020] FUZZ, the Los Angeles-based trio of Ty Segall (drums, vocals), Charles Moothart (guitar, vocals), and new member Chad Ubovich (bass, vocals), have returned with their third album and first album in five years. Appropriately titled III, the band comes back with their familiar modern stoner rock but unlike their two … Read more
Bruce Springsteen Letter To YouColumbia Records [2020] Bruce Springsteen, the very guy who wrote “Glory Days” about folk who spend their adult years looking back to the time when they were in their prime and their star shined brightest, should probably have seen this time in his life and career coming. Maybe it’s a little … Read more
William Elliott Whitmore I’m With YouBloodshot Records [2020] You would likely be forgiven if you mistook Iowa-based singer/songwriter William Elliott Whitmore for someone much older. While still in his early 40’s, Whitmore’s straight forward folk and country roots, would feel right at home alongside the decades old output of Woody Guthrie, Jimmie Rogers, or A.P. … Read more
Tom PettyWildflowers & All The RestWarner Records [2020] As the story has been told, in 1994 when Tom Petty released his second solo record, Wildflowers, he and producer Rick Rubin intended it to go out as a double-album. While his 1989 solo project recorded with Jeff Lynne, Full Moon Fever, had been the source of … Read more
AlrightI’m Doing This To MyselfSelf Aware Records [2020] Alright is a fuzzed out indie band from Charlotte, North Carolina that is led by the energetic guitar and voice of Sarah Blumenthal. Their debut full length, I’m Doing This To Myself, is a blood pressure raising rocker that throws out all the gimmicks and delivers a … Read more
Frankie And The Witch Fingers Monsters Eating People Eating Monsters . . .The Reverberation Appreciation Society / Greenway Records [2020] Who: I count Frankie and the Witch Fingers as having one of the coolest stories in rock n’ roll right now: Release, ZAM, one of the best albums of your career, gain great attention with … Read more
IDLESUltra MonoPartisan Records [2020] One listen to the UK’s IDLES and you can’t deny the fierceness that surrounds their music. The band has a big attitude, plenty of opinions, and a snarl like no other band on the current scene. IDLES also has a front man in Joe Talbot that never takes a breath or … Read more
Fleet Foxes ShoreANTI- [2020] There are a handful of songs in the middle of this fourth album from Fleet Foxes that feel very much in sync with early expectations created by the folky, rural Americana, melody focused, harmony-rich albums, their ’08 self-title debut and 2011’s Helplessness Blues. “A Long Way Past the Past” relies on … Read more
Semisonic You’re Not AlonePleasuresonic Recordings [2020] Google the Minnesota power/pop trio Semisonic and the first listing will always be their big hit single for 1998, “Closing Time.” Of course, I don’t know this personally, but I’ve heard from some artist friends that writing a hit like that, where a fluky fun pop song written to … Read more
The Texas Gentlemen Floor It!!!New West Records [2020] The first time I listened to The Texas Gentlemen’s newest release, Floor It!!!, I had a flashback to the summer of 1979. Something in the masterful instrumental prowess in the individual players and the band’s penchant for genre bending moves through funk, country swing, Dixieland jazz, and … Read more
Bill CallahanGold RecordDrag City Records [2020] If there is one thing that shines some light during this pandemic year is that Bill Callahan has quickly returned with another batch of songs that documents his thoughts on the life that surrounds him. In fact, Gold Record has a little bit of a continuation sound vibe from … Read more
Lo Tom LP2Self-Released [2020] Lo Tom’s 2017 eponymously-titled debut proved an unexpected delight. In an age of political and emotional dysfunction, it just felt so good to hear these long-time friends and musical collaborators get together in the garage with their guitars, turn up the amps and let it rip. Singer David Bazan of course … Read more
The Flaming Lips American HeadWarner Records [2020] Described as a reflection on singer Wayne Coyne’s youthful upbringing in Oklahoma City, The Flaming Lips’ 16th album, American Head steps away from the bombastic sci-fi rock opera visions of 2002’s Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots and last year’s King’s Mouth to make a record of more reflective, … Read more
Guided By VoicesMirrored AztecGBV Inc. [2020] Go big or go home feels like the unwritten motto on the newest Guided By Voices album Mirrored Aztec. On their second record release of 2020, GBV looks to hit every one of these eighteen tracks out of the rock n’ roll park! For fans, that means big riffs, … Read more