Cherry Glazerr: I Don’t Want You Anymore [Album Review]

Cherry GlazerrI Don’t Want You AnymoreSecretly Canadian [2023] Clementine Creevy, also known as Cherry Glazerr, describes her fourth record, I Don’t Want You Anymore, as a “mature” album. This reference primarily relates to her personal growth rather than being a reflection of the record itself. This statement holds true in both the musical and lyrical … Read more

Sincere Engineer: Cheap Grills [Album Review]

Sincere EngineerCheap GrillsHopeless Records [2023] Chicago-based indie punk artist Sincere Engineer started as a solo acoustic punk act, performing at dive bars and open mics. Singer Deanna Belos decided to forgo dental school for a career in punk music, and she has since toured the world with bands like Alkaline Trio, The Menzingers, and Joyce … Read more

Mitski: The Land Is Inhospitable And So Are We [Album Review]

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

Tony Jay: Perfect Worlds [Album Review]

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

Speedy Ortiz: Rabbit Rabbit [Album Review]

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 Rosenstock: HELLMODE [Album Review]

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

Be Your Own Pet: Mommy [Album Review]

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

Osees: Intercepted Message [Album Review]

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

Being Dead: When Horses Would Run [Album Review]

Being DeadWhen Horses Would RunBayonet Records [2023] On their debut album, Being Dead takes listeners on a captivating journey through a psychedelic landscape that skillfully combines vintage influences with present-day experimentation. Comprising of friends Falcon Bitch and Gumball, the band demonstrates an adeptness for blending elements of lo-fi, surf, folk, jazz, and indie rock into … Read more

rocky: rocky [Album Review]

rockyrockyLulu’s Sonic Disc Club [2023] Australia’s rocky is a new recording project featuring Xanthe Waite (Terry, Primo) and Raven Mahon (Grass Widow, Green Child). The album is a fantastic slice of modern post-punk at its roots but is presented in a much more artistic package. The album swings big by actually giving less as its … Read more

The Budos Band: Frontier’s Edge [Album Review]

The Budos BandFrontier’s EdgeDiamond West Records [2023] The Budos Band, known for their unique instrumental blend of Afrobeat, funk, soul, and psychedelic rock, has once again delivered a powerful and mesmerizing release with their new mini-album, Frontier’s Edge. The band enters a new era after a two-decade run with the legendary Daptone Records. Frontier’s Edge … Read more

Joanna Sternberg: I’ve Got Me [Album Review]

Joanna SternbergI’ve Got MeFat Possum Records [2023] Joanna Sternberg’s sophomore album, I’ve Got Me, is a heartfelt and introspective album that delves into themes of recognition, self-discovery, and resilience. With their raw and honest songwriting, Sternberg invites listeners on a deeply personal journey, showcasing their remarkable talent as both a songwriter and performer. The album … Read more

Motorbike: Motorbike [Album Review]

MotorbikeMotorbikeFeel It Records [2023] I love it when a record comes out of nowhere and completely knocks you over after the first spin. Motorbike’s self-titled debut did just that with its full-throttle, high-stakes rock ‘n’ roll assault that will make you a believer in its short twenty-seven-minute runtime. The five-piece Welsh-American band from Cincinnati, Ohio, … Read more

Pardoner: Peace Loving People [Album Review]

PardonerPeace Loving PeopleBar/None Records [2023] Pardoner, the San Francisco-based indie rock band, has returned with their fourth album, Peace Loving People, and it’s a fantastic display of their evolving sound and songwriting prowess. Building upon the foundation they laid on last year’s excellent Came Down Different, Pardoner delivers a collection of songs here that continues … Read more

Rancid: Tomorrow Never Comes [Album Review]

RancidTomorrow Never ComesEpitaph Records [2023] After a five-year hiatus, Rancid returns with their tenth studio album, Tomorrow Never Comes. This album marks a solid return to form for the band, blending a familiar sound with a refreshing energy. The album showcases Rancid’s trademark ska-punk style, infused with a more mature and refined edge. The songs … Read more

Protomartyr: Formal Growth In The Desert [Album Review]

ProtomartyrFormal Growth In The DesertDomino [2023] Protomartyr, the Detroit-based post-punk band, has returned with their sixth studio album, Formal Growth In The Desert. The record contains waves of emotion that confront the inevitability of loss and the necessity of finding joy through it, persisting in the face of adversity. This emotional drive sets Protomartyr apart, … Read more

Water From Your Eyes: Everyone’s Crushed [Album Review]

Water From Your EyesEveryone’s CrushedMatador Records [2023] Water From Your Eyes, the Brooklyn-based duo comprised of Nate Amos and Rachel Brown, has returned with Everyone’s Crushed, an album that defies easy categorization, blending elements of indie rock, experimental pop, post-punk, and electronica. Drawing influences from bands like Animal Collective, Björk, and Radiohead, the duo has … Read more

The Bug Club: Green Dream In F# [Album Review]

The Bug ClubGreen Dream In F#Bingo/We Are Busy Bodies [2022/2023] The Bug Club’s debut album, Green Dream In F#, was originally released late last year by UK label Bingo Records. We Are Busy Bodies has just recently released it officially in North America to spread its charming and eclectic collection of songs that deftly blends … Read more

Parannoul: After The Magic [Album Review]

ParannoulAfter The MagicTopshelf Records [2023] After The Magic is the third studio album by South Korean shoegaze musician Parannoul. The album is a more mature and refined album than Parannoul’s previous work and easily their biggest and most rocked out record to date. The sound is still dreamy and atmospheric, but there is a greater … Read more

Rose City Band: Garden Party [Album Review]

Rose City BandGarden PartyThrill Jockey Records [2023] Rose City Band’s Garden Party is a delightful blend of psychedelic and country sounds that create a truly unique listening experience. This fourth album in the band’s catalog is a continuation of the group’s porch music which features the signature sound of guitarist Ripley Johnson (Wooden Shjips, Moon … Read more

Washer: Improved Means To Deteriorated Ends [Album Review]

WasherImproved Means To Deteriorated EndsExploding In Sound Records [2023] Improved Means To Deteriorated Ends marks the return of the Brooklyn/Philadelphia-based indie rock duo, Washer. It has been six years since the group’s sophomore record All Aboard was released in 2017, but the extra time has paid off. Originally planning to record in 2020, Mike Quigley … Read more

Metallica: 72 Seasons [Album Review]

Metallica72 SeasonsBlackened Recordings [2023] Metallica’s 72 Seasons is a true testament to the band’s longevity, power, and unbridled creativity. It is their first studio album since 2016’s Hardwired… to Self-Destruct, and their second album to feature bassist Robert Trujillo as a full-time member. With its 12 tracks, 72 Seasons is a masterful blend of the … Read more

Yves Tumor: Praise A Lord Who Chews But Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds) [Album Review]

Yves TumorPraise A Lord Who Chews But Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds)Warp Records [2023] Yves Tumor is a singer, songwriter, and producer known for his experimental approach to music, blending elements of rock, electronic, and soul into a unique and boundary-pushing sound. Born Sean Bowie in Miami, Florida, Yves Tumor began … Read more

Wednesday: Rat Saw God [Album Review]

WednesdayRat Saw GodDead Oceans [2023] Asheville, North Carolina band Wednesday jumped right up to the top of the indie scene with their guitar fueled sophomore record Twin Plagues in 2021. The album was a breath of fresh air with vocalist Karly Hartzman taking a commanding front and center role while it also put a spotlight … Read more

boygenius: The Record [Album Review]

boygeniusThe RecordInterscope Records [2023] boygenius is the supergroup trio comprised of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus. Their debut album is the follow up to the group’s fantastic 2018 self-titled EP. At the time of its 6-song release, boygenius seemed like a real treat getting to hear these talented artists come together in one … Read more