QlowskiQuale Futuro?Maple Death/Feel It Records [2021] As far as I am concerned there is always room at the table for another post-punk band if their debut is as solid as London-based Qlowski. Their new full length album, Quale Futuro?, introduces you to the quartet of Mickey Tellarini (guitar, keyboards, vocals), Cecilia Corapi (keyboards, vocals), Danny … Read more
The MurlocsBittersweet DemonsATO/Flightless Records [2021] Melbourne-based five-piece The Murlocs always will be tagged with an asterisk that describes them as having two members of the ever growing popular King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard. Those two members are lead singer/guitarist/harmonica player Ambrose Kenny-Smith and bassist Cook Craig but the Murlocs have plenty of other talent … Read more
Mdou MoctarAfrique VictimeMatador Records [2021] If I was asked to name a stand out guitarist on the indie scene today I would absolutely and confidently say Mdou Moctar. This name for sure would get blank stares from many and I would follow up my answer with something like “C’mon, you don’t know the Tuareg guitarist … Read more
Jackson Reid Briggs & The HeatersWaiting In A CornerLegless/Drunken Sailor Records [2021] If you took Melbourne’s Jackson Reid Briggs & The Heaters temperature from the opening riff on their new and fifth album, Waiting In A Corner, you would call the doctor because this band comes in hot, stays hot and never simmers. Jackson Reid … Read more
SquidBright Green FieldWarp Records [2021] It is always fun to see certain musical movements take over an area of the world. TFN has been getting very accustomed to looking to Australia for fresh psychedelic rock and now with Squid, London is the “it” place to be for mind bending genre jumping post-punk. First black midi … Read more
Spread JoySpread JoyFeel It Records [2021] Chicago’s Spread Joy are an intensely tight post punk band that gives everything they got on their 14 minute debut in exciting and short packages. The needling guitar and pacing stop short drums keep every song from Spread Joy in a perfect sequence and create a seamless experience from … Read more
Ryley WalkerCourse In FableHusky Pants Records [2021] Ryley Walker has walked an interesting musical path since his last solo release of Deafman Glance in 2018 but more importantly he is celebrating a new beginning of sorts in 2021 with sobriety after a long time of addiction and a suicide attempt in 2019. Musically, he released … Read more
Mt. MountainCentreFuzz Club Records [2021] Australian five-piece Mt. Mountain’s fourth album, Centre, is a sprawling, psychedelic rocker that rides the edge of quiet waves right before they crash. That anticipation of when their music switches gears is exactly Mt. Mountain’s strength and it is why Centre is great listen from front to back. This surreal … Read more
FloatieVoyage OutExploding In Sound Records [2021] There is something special about Floatie’s math rock that brings you closer to your speakers and that is what makes the Chicago-based band’s debut, Voyage Out, so engaging. The band approaches each song with a cautious but focused playing of their instruments that never really leaves a mid-tempo pace … Read more
TUNSDuly NotedMurderecords [2021] There is nothing better than a killer power pop record and TUNS sophomore album, Duly Noted, may just be one of the best ones you might hear this year. If you are already familiar with TUNS this should not be a shocking statement as members Chris Murphy (Sloan), Mike O’Neil (The Inbreds), … Read more
King Gizzard & The Lizard WizardL.W.Flightless Records [2021] One thing that never was in question during this eternal pandemic lockdown was that Australia’s King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard would crank out some more records. L.W. is the bands seventeenth studio album and is the bookend to last year’s K.G. release and considered Volume 3 … Read more
Mister GoblinFour People In An Elevator And One Of Them Is The DevilExploding In Sound Records [2021] Mister Goblin is the solo project of Sam Goblin (formerly of Two Inch Astronaut) and his sophomore album, Four People In An Elevator And One Of Them Is The Devil, is the best recording he has released to … Read more
Black Country, New RoadFor The First TimeNinja Tune [2021] Despite having just two early singles to date, Black Country, New Road came into 2021 with their debut, For The First Time, being one of the most highly anticipated records of the year. The critics picked up on their Black Midi vibe early and quickly crowned … Read more
CalyxStay GonePlastic Miracles / Ethospine Noise / Chumpire / Salinas Records [2021] I always enjoy when I come across a record that just bursts with raw energy. That is exactly how I would quickly describe Calyx’s full length debut, Stay Gone, as the Pittsburgh trio has perfected their brash style of indie punk rock. The … Read more
Frankie SunsweptTurningRomanus Records [2021] You may know of Frankie Sunswept from his previous band Crushed Out which played a higher octave fuzz guitar with several beats mixed into the song structures. Now out on his own, Sunswept’s debut, Turning, provides a solid kaleidoscope of pop, soul, rock, blues and psychedelia for a satisfying listen from … Read more
Delvon Lamarr Organ TrioI Told You SoColemine Records [2021] Great music always finds a way to captivate its audience and find new listeners. That is the way I feel about this excellent new record from Seattle-based soul-jazz group Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio. The group’s sophomore studio album, I Told You So, will turn your ears … Read more
Kiwi Jr.Cooler ReturnsSup Pop Records [2021] I always like to watch bands grow from their debut and attempt one of the biggest moments in any band’s career which is to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump. Toronto’s Kiwi Jr. for sure is in that watch group following their catchy 2019 debut Football Money on Canadian label … Read more
shameDrunk Tank PinkDead Oceans [2021] How about a record that embraces the isolation of current times with a simmering post-punk that will hit your core? If that peaks your interest then shame’s sophomore record, Drunk Tank Pink, is a release that you need to spin right now. The band presents a much more mature sound … Read more
Sonny FallsAll That Has Come Apart/Once Did Not ExistPlastic Miracles [2020] If we would have gotten hold of Sonny Falls new double album before December it would have landed in our 2020 Top 50 end year list. The album was actually released in three parts starting on August 7th, when the first cassette was released, … Read more
Aaron FrazerIntroducing…Dead Oceans/Easy Eye Sound [2021] One element that helped make the last record from Durand Jones and The Indications, American Love Call, a success was the quality songwriting and elegant falsetto coming from drummer Aaron Frazer. Has creativeness and voice was the perfect balance for the band but also put a large spotlight on … Read more
King Gizzard & The Lizard WizardK.G.Flightless Records [2020] After releasing a handful of live releases earlier this year, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard have now returned with the new studio album K.G., their sixteenth since they formed in 2010. It represents a collection of songs that saw the six members of the band home … Read more
Kimono Drag QueensSongs Of WorshipCopper Feast Records [2020] Since their formation in 2016, Sydney’s psych-rock band Kimono Drag Queens have released a string of singles, and have been slowly leading up to finally releasing their debut, Songs Of Worship. It’s taken the seven-piece two years to record but I believe it was worth the wait … 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
SLIFTUmmonVicious Circle/Stolen Body Records [2020] French psychedelic trio SLIFT started things off back in 2017 when they released their debut EP, Space Is The Key, via one of our favorite labels in Howlin’ Banana Records. Their debut LP, La Planète Inexplorée, then followed in 2018 and found the band exploring their garage psych sound and … Read more
Stiff RichardsState Of MindLegless/Drunken Sailor Records [2020] The pure raw punk on Melbourne’s Stiff Richards third LP, State Of Mind, is a mind blowing powerful 27 minute ride of rock n roll that never lets its foot off of the gas pedal. Singer Wolfgang Buckley consistently struts around these songs like a young Iggy Pop … Read more