In The PinesPainting By NumbersSoul Step Records [2023] Cincinnati’s In The Pines has recently released their newest record, Painting By Numbers, where the group effortlessly weaves a sonic tapestry that resonates with both introspection and exuberance. From the opening notes of the album, listeners are immediately enveloped in a lush soundscape that transcends genre boundaries. … Read more
Erik NervousImmaturityFatCat/Feel It Records [2023] Erik Nervous, also known as Erik Hart to those who know him well, has consistently released at least one EP per year since 2015. In addition to his solo work, Erik collaborates with friends in the band Beta Blockers, and he has been a synth player for The Spits since … Read more
The Rolling StonesHackney DiamondsGeffen Records [2023] Okay, friends, let’s be honest. There’s no way in hell that this late-in-life album from the Rolling Stones has any right to sound and feel as good as it does. In a few months, it will be the 60th anniversary of the release of their self-titled debut. The band’s … Read more
The FeeliesSome Kinda Love: Performing The Music Of The Velvet UndergroundBar/None Records [2023] The general rule regarding influential artists is that popular success dictates the lasting impact of one’s work, although rare exceptions exist. While two of the most influential and innovative pop & rock bands of the 60s, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, … Read more
CIVICNew Vietnam And SinglesAnti Fade/ATO Records [2023] Melbourne’s CIVIC released their debut EP, New Vietnam, originally in 2018 via Anti Fade Records. It was this EP that caught the attention of Flightless Records (King Gizzard) for their 2021 full-length Future Forecast, which, with their ATO partnership, made its way to the States. This new reissue, … Read more
Truth ClubRunning From The ChaseDouble Double Whammy [2023] Truth Club’s sophomore record, Running From The Chase, bursts onto the scene with an infectious energy and a distinctive classic alternative sound that captures the essence of today’s indie music landscape. While the Raleigh, North Carolina band’s style may seem familiar, the band masterfully infuses their own … Read more
GOATMedicineRocket Recordings [2023] GOAT, the enigmatic Swedish collective known for their unique blend of world music, psychedelia, and mysticism, has swiftly reemerged on the global music scene with Medicine. Following last year’s harder-edged and busier-sounding Oh Death, the band’s fifth full-length offering propels you gently across another sonic journey into the mystical and tribal. Medicine … Read more
UpchuckBite The Hand That FeedsFamous Class Records [2023] For their sophomore record, Atlanta’s Upchuck headed to California to record Bite The Hand That Feeds, enlisting the production talents of Ty Segall. Right from the first guitar strums in the opening track, “Freaky,” you can hear Segall’s influence as its screeching rhythm mirrors his catalog’s template. … Read more
Population IIÉlectrons libres du québecBonsound [2023] It’s no secret that heavy psych is one of our favorite genres here at TFN, and there are plenty of bands that fit that description releasing killer albums. From US-based acts like Osees and Ty Segall to bands from other parts of the world like France’s Slift and Australia’s … Read more
Sugar TraditionMore SugarFeel It Records [2023] Wait until you spin the free-wheelin’ new EP from Detroit’s Sugar Tradition. More Sugar is a carefree record that was recorded live, encapsulating the raw and rebellious spirit of the 1960s era. It features a collection of songs with an enduring classic vibe, paying homage to the garage R&B … Read more
The NationalLaugh Track4AD [2023] I never thought that The National would embrace the concept of a surprise album, but here we are. That night at their 2023 Homecoming festival, the band tore through one of their greatest accomplishments in full: High Violet. Among other songs, they played the self-stated, Walkmen-inspired “Available,” and then followed that … Read more
Darrell Scott String BandOld Cane Back RockerSoundly Music [2023] Before I get in over my head, I should probably acknowledge that bluegrass/country music is not my usual jam. If you read my stuff here before, that’s likely obvious to you. There’s a family story my Mom tells about my Indiana Gramps playing slide Hawaiian guitar … Read more
The SextonesLove Can’t Be BorrowedRecord Kicks [2023] Produced by Kelly Finnigan of The Monophonics, Love Can’t Be Borrowed is the sophomore album by The Sextones. The record charts a soulful path that’s sure to captivate fans, both old and new. This Reno, Nevada-based band, comprised of Mark Sexton (guitar, vocals), Alexander Korostinsky (bass), Daniel Weiss … Read more
Nick Cave & Warren EllisAustralian Carnage: Live at the Sydney Opera HouseGoliath Records [2023] “This is a joyful song,” says Nick Cave by way of introduction to “Breathless,” a song from the 2004 double album release with his full band, The Bad Seed, Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus. But then in jest he adds, “So … Read more
MitskiThe Land Is Inhospitable And So Are WeDead Oceans [2023] Indie sensation Mitski has once again delivered a record that resonates on multiple levels, this time with her seventh studio album, The Land Is Inhospitable And So Are We. Known for her poignant lyricism and genre-defying soundscapes, Mitski continues to push the boundaries of her … Read more
SparklehorseBird MachineANTI- [2023] To state the obvious, the arrival of a post-humous release from an artist that died all too early by suicide will often be tinged with the both the bitter and the sweet. Bird Machine, arriving 13 years after the death of Sparklehorse’s Mark Linkous, has been lovingly curated by his brother Matt … Read more
Mondo DragThrough The HourglassRidingEasy Records [2023] Over the last several years RidingEasy records has gained a reputation for great reissues of obscure hard rock, heavy psych, and proto-metal albums, especially their fantastic Brown Acid compilations (co-released with fellow Los Angeles label Permanent Records). But RidingEasy also has a solid roster of modern bands, most of … Read more
Tony JayPerfect WorldsSlumberland Records [2023] San Francisco’s Tony Jay crafts a style of music that falls perfectly within my musical preferences. His slightly mysterious lo-fi bedroom pop has a unique ability to draw you into the lyrics, as the music and words seem to engage in a subtle battle for your attention. Recorded in 2021, … Read more
Smug BrothersIn The Book Of Bad IdeasAnyway Records [2023] Ohio indie band Smug Brothers has released some great under-the-radar records since their formation in 2004. The band boasts a relaxed, stylish blend of power pop and lo-fi rock that captivates listeners right from their opening guitar strums. In The Book Of Bad Ideas continues to … Read more
Speedy OrtizRabbit RabbitWax Nine Records [2023] Speedy Ortiz, the indie rock outfit from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has made a long-awaited return with their fourth full-length studio album, Rabbit Rabbit. This release marks their first since Twerp Verse in 2018. Led by the enigmatic Sadie Dupuis, the band had already carved out a distinctive niche in the … Read more
Jeff RosenstockHELLMODEPolyvinyl Records [2023] HELLMODE marks the fifth studio album Jeff Rosenstock has released in the last ten years under his own name, following the dissolution of his beloved cult projects Bomb the Music Industry! and The Arrogant Sons of Bitches. This record once again perfectly captures his frenetic, genre-bending tour de force that encapsulates … Read more
Frankie And The Witch FingersData DoomThe Reverberation Appreciation Society / Greenway Records [2023] First of all, let me start with a disclaimer: Frankie and the Witch Fingers are embarking on a tour in support of their latest album, Data Doom. If you have the opportunity to attend their concert, I highly recommend it. The last … Read more
Be Your Own PetMommyThird Man Records [2023] Be Your Own Pet has a solid history of delivering a wild and unapologetic ride through the chaotic realm of garage punk and indie rock. Mommy marks the band’s first LP in 15+ years and was written and recorded by the three founding members Jemina Pearl Abegg (vox), … Read more
Kendra MorrisI Am What I’m Waiting ForColemine/Karma Chief Records [2023] When Kendra Morris released Nine Lives at the beginning of 2022, it was the culmination of more than ten years of creative partnership with producer and songwriter Jeremy Page. The psych-soul opus, Morris’s first for Colemine imprint Karma Chief Records, was one of the best … Read more
OseesIntercepted MessageIn The Red Records [2023] Osees have adopted several different monikers over the years, showcasing their chameleon-like nature. This American psychedelic rock band originated in San Francisco in the late 1990s. Led by the multi-talented musician and songwriter John Dwyer, Osees’ music has consistently been characterized by its high-energy garage rock sound, interwoven with … Read more