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
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
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 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 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 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
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 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. 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 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 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
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
Bill CallahanYTI⅃AƎЯDrag City Records [2022] I think one could easily build an argument that Bill Callahan is one of the stronger singer/songwriters of the past 25 years. The Smog band leader had a multitude of great albums and then his solo career has been a fascinating journey to hear through his lens. He does not … Read more
OVENSOVENSTankcrimes [2022] I believe that our faithful TFN followers know the catchy sounds of Tony Molina and hopefully checked out his Headphone Approved release this year titled In The Fade. What you might not know is that Tony has played in about 14 bands. That is a lot to keep up with and tracking down … Read more
The StroppiesLevityTough Love Records [2022] After the release of The Stroppies debut Whoosh and the Look Alive EP, the Melbourne quartet firmly established themselves as a top tier indie jangle pop band that followed a very Flying Nun sound. Their carefree approach comes off effortlessly and that same confidence caries their sophomore full length, Levity. … Read more
GIFTMomentary PresenceDedstrange Records [2022] Brooklyn-based GIFT are a psych-rock quintet that have blended a classic shoegaze approach with muscular indie guitars and airy vocals to create a memorable debut in Momentary Presence. What makes this record immediatly stand out is how confident and constructed its ten tracks firmly flow out of your speakers. The tracks … Read more
DeliveryForever Giving HandshakesFeel It/Spoilsport/Anti Fade Records [2022] The intense pulsating rhythm in Delivery’s opening track, “Picture This,” will give you your first realization that their debut record, Forever Giving Handshakes, will be one of the tightest sounding post-punk debuts you have heard this year. The Melbourne five-piece work as one true musical force through all … Read more
MarthaPlease Don’t Take Me BackSpecialist Subject/Dirtnap Records [2022] Now on their fourth album, Durham, England’s Martha has perfected their indie pop punk formula as they have released one of their most engaging records to date. Please Don’t Take Me Back has an early DIY sound with loud crashing guitars and drums while the group comes … Read more
Surprise ChefEducation & RecreationBig Crown Records [2022] In the music critic business, you would be surprised sometimes on how promoters create large reaching descriptors for artists just to grab a publication’s attention. Many times, they are not even close but sometimes just asking the band is the best source as Melbourne’s Surprise Chef describes their … Read more
Guided By VoicesScalping The GuruGBV Inc. [2022] If you were to poll fans of Guided By Voices what they thought were three consecutive years that highlight the sweet spot of recordings from the band, 1993-1995 would be one of the top answers. One obvious reason of course is that the classic LPs Bee Thousand (1994) … Read more
SloanSteadyYep Roc Records [2022] Steady represents Sloan’s 13th full length album, and its release today coincides with the 30th anniversary of their debut record Smeared which came out in October 1992. Sloan are one of the rare bands to make it to their 13th album with all four original members which leads to their consistent … Read more
AlvvaysBlue RevPolyvinyl Records [2022] For many bands there is still a standard process of releasing a new record every two or three years. More recently, we have seen some artists cranking out records even faster or just releasing a single here and there to what I believe is a focus to stay relevant. Now you … Read more
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
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
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