Stephen Malkmus: Groove Denied [Album Review]

Stephen Malkmus Groove Denied Matador Records [2019] Who: Frontman for Pavement and The Jicks confidently releases another solo project. Sound: With a backbone of synth and beats, Malkmus offers up something different that walks a closer line to Beck but the album still shows flashes of Pavement as well. TFN Final Take: I will tell … Read more

Spielbergs: This Is Not The End [Album Review]

Spielbergs This Is Not The End By The Time It Gets Dark Records [2019] Who: This Is Not The End is Oslo, Norway’s Spielbergs debut full length. Sound: Spielbergs have a throwback alt rock sound that will have Superdrag fans loving the hooks and Hum fans loving the guitars. TFN Final Take: The Spielbergs are … Read more

Swervedriver: Future Ruins [Album Review]

Swervedriver Future Ruins Dangerbird Records [2019] Who: This is Swervedriver’s sixth album and first since 2015’s I Wasn’t Born to Lose You. Sound: Swervedriver is a name that typically (and should) come up when talking about ‘90s shoegaze. On that spectrum, Swervedriver leaned more on the rock side with their blending of guitar, vocals and … Read more

The Dandy Warhols: Why You So Crazy [Album Review]

The Dandy Warhols Why You So Crazy Dine Alone Records [2019] Who: The release of their 10th studio album sees The Dandy Warhols also celebrating 25 years of being a band. Sound: Alternative power pop band at its core but later years have brought plenty of synth pop and art to their albums. TFN Final … Read more

Cherry Glazerr: Stuffed & Ready [Album Review]

Cherry Glazerr Stuffed & Ready Secretly Canadian [2019] Who: Stuffed & Ready follows Cherry Glazerr’s Secretly Canadian debut Apocalipstick (2017), an album that saw a young band grow with plenty of indie cred that included earlier releases on Burger and Suicide Squeeze Records. The band has seen some lineup changes but is still driven by … Read more

Steve Gunn: The Unseen In Between [Album Review]

Steve Gunn The Unseen In Between Matador Records [2019] Who: Guitarist/vocalist Steve Gunn is a name that probably is still unknown by many but over the last ten years he has released several highly praised solo records and collaborated with artists like Mike Cooper, Kurt Vile, and Michael Chapman (whose most recent studio album he … Read more

The C.I.A.: The C.I.A. [Album Review]

The C.I.A. The C.I.A. In The Red [2018] Who: The C.I.A. was the sixth Ty Segall related album of 2018 and is a collaboration with his wife, Denée Segall, and Emmett Kelly (The Cairo Gang), a longtime member of his band. Sound: Denée Segall takes the lead vocal duties here and gives a punk delivery … Read more

Sloucher: Be True [Album Review]

Sloucher Be True Swoon Records [2018] Who: Seattle quartet Sloucher has been building a fan base in the Pacific Northwest since their 2016 debut EP Certainty and the band has shared the stage with such acts as Portugal. The Man, Guided By Voices, and Angel Olsen. Sound: Sloucher play an upbeat and harmonized indie rock … Read more

Cloud Nothings: Last Building Burning [Album Review]

Cloud Nothings Last Building Burning Carpark Records [2018] Who: Cleveland four-piece Cloud Nothings has returned with their fifth LP. Sound: Cloud Nothings has always offered a solid indie rock edge and Last Building Burning brings their earlier angst back to the forefront. It has a spirit of Drive Like Jehu, Pissed Jeans, Jesus Lizard, and … Read more

Active Bird Community: Amends [Album Review]

Active Bird Community Amends Barsuk Records [2018] Who: Active Bird Community is a Brooklyn band formed in 2005. Amends is their Barsuk Records debut. Sound: Strong 90’s alt-rock influences as they have a vibe that will take you back to the days of Tripping Daisy, Jimmy Eat World, and Harvey Danger while giving you a … Read more

Kamasi Washington: Heaven And Earth [Album Review]

Kamasi Washington Heaven And Earth Young Turks [2018] Who: Kamasi Washington is a multi-instrumentalist and producer born and raised in Los Angeles. He grew up playing jazz in the city’s storied Leimert Park neighborhood. Forming his first band, the Young Jazz Giants, with Stephen “Thundercat” Bruner, Ronald Bruner, Jr. and Cameron Graves in high school, … Read more

Canshaker Pi: Naughty Naughty Violence [Album Review]

Canshaker Pi Naughty Naughty Violence Excelsior Recordings [2018] Who: Having spent the last few years supporting artists such as Car Seat Headrest, Parquet Courts and the Cribs, Amsterdam-based rock quartet Canshaker Pi have released their sophomore record, Naughty Naughty Violence. Sound: Blistering indie rock that fits in with Parquet Courts while bringing back memories of … Read more

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever: Hope Downs [Album Review]

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever Hope Downs Sub Pop Records [2018] Who: Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever’s Hope Downs is the debut from the Melbourne, Australia quintet. Up till now the band had been earning praise and a following from several EPs they released over the last few years. Sound: Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever have the classic … Read more

Amen Dunes – “Believe” [Video]

Amen Dunes (aka the project of New York-based Damon McMahon) released his new album, Freedom, this past spring via Sacred Bones. “Believe,” a song about nostalgia, mortality, the passage of time, and the feminine powers that preside over life, is presented today with a video directed by cinematographer Steven Brahms, who also directed the video for lead single “Miki Dora,” and starring NYC poet and painter Laura Leigh. Amen Dunes is currently on tour and you can see all of their dates below.

Amen Dunes Tour Dates:
Sat. June 23 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel ^
Thu. Aug. 9 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Troubadour
Sat. Aug. 11 – San Francisco, CA @ Outside Lands
Mon. Aug. 13 – Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile
Tue. Aug. 14 – Vancouver, BC @ Fox Cabaret
Wed. Aug. 15 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
Fri. Aug. 17 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
Sat. Aug. 18 – Denver, CO @ Globe Hall
Mon. Aug. 20 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St. Entry
Tue. Aug. 21 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
Thu. Aug. 23 – Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
Fri. Aug. 24 – Montreal, QC @ Bar Le Ritz
Sat. Aug. 25 – Pine Plains, NY @ Huichica East Festival
Sun. Aug. 26 – Boston, MA @ The Sinclair
Thu. Aug. 30 – Sun. Sep. 2 – Dorset, UK @ End of the Road Festival
Mon. Sep. 3 – London, UK @ London Underground *
Wed. Sep. 5 – Manchester, UK @ Gorilla *
Thu. Sep. 6 – Bristol, UK @ Thekla *
Fri. Sep. 7 – Portmeirion, UK @ Festival No. 6
Sun. Sep. 9 – Gent, BE @ DOK Arena
Mon. Sep. 10 – Nieuw-Amsterdam, NE @ Paradiso Noord
Thu. Sep. 13 – Stockholm, SE @ Nalen Klubb
Fri. Sep. 14 – Oslo, NO @ Ingensteds
Sat. Sep. 15 – Göteborg, SE @ Pustervik
Mon. Sep. 17 – Berlin, DE @ Lido
Tue. Sep. 18 – Prague, CZ @ Meet Factory
Wed. Sep. 19 – Vienna, AT @ WUK
Fri. Sep. 21 – Zurich, CH @ Rote Fabrik
Sat. Sep. 22 – Bologna, IT @ Covo
Mon. Sep. 24 – Barcelona, ES @ LA2
Tue. Sep. 25 – Madrid, ES @ Copernico

^ w/ US Girls
* w/ Cut Worms

Kevin Krauter: Toss Up [Album Review]

Kevin Krauter Toss Up Bayonet Records [2018] Who: Kevin Krauter is best known as one of several guitar players, songwriters, and vocalists in the Hoosier indie-rock band Hoops. Sound: The soft swaying indie rock of Kevin Krauter proudly shows off his 70’s easy listening influences while also sneaking in plenty of other eras. The album … Read more

Michael Rault: It’s A New Day Tonight [Album Review]

Michael Rault It’s A New Day Tonight Wick Records [2018] TFN Final Take: It’s A New Day Tonight is the follow up to Michael Rault’s garage rock debut, Living Daylight, which was released on Burger Records in 2015. The release was actually a combination of two EPs that he previous released in 2014, so It’s … Read more

Wax Chattels: Wax Chattels [Album Review]

Wax Chattels Wax Chattels Captured Tracks/Flying Nun Records [2018] TFN Final Take: A “guitarless guitar band,” almost doesn’t sound like a real thing but that is what the New Zealand noise-rock band Wax Chattels have labeled themselves. A drum kit, bass and keyboard drive the noise here while the vocals of Peter Ruddell and Amanda … Read more

Arctic Monkeys: Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino [Album Review]

Arctic Monkeys Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino Domino Records [2018] Fire Note Says: Arctic Monkeys have flipped the switch. Album Review: When its been five years since your last (and biggest) record to date, fans will expect even greater things from you upon your return. That is exactly the feeling most had when it was … Read more

Remember Sports: Slow Buzz [Album Review]

Remember Sports Slow Buzz Father/Daughter Records [2018] Who: Remember Sports is the new name for the band SPORTS. Slow Buzz is the group’s third LP and finds Carmen Perry (vocals, guitar), Jack Washburn (guitar), and Catherine Dwyer (bass) now relocated from Gambier, OH to Philadelphia, PA, while also adding a new drummer in Connor Perry. … Read more