GleemerDown ThroughOther People Records [2020] If you are looking for a record to sit down with and just absorb then I highly recommend the new long player from Fort Collins, Colorado group Gleemer. The band has refined their earlier indie rock sound with more driving and pulsating riffs combined with a shimmering shoegaze here that … Read more
Cathedrale Houses Are Built The Same Howlin’ Banana Records [2020] Houses Are Built The Same is the third LP from the French post-punk group Cathedrale. Where I have found their previous releases slightly more gritty, Cathedrale have grown into a much tighter force on this album with clean edge guitars, focused vocals and a multitude … Read more
Car Seat HeadrestMaking A Door Less OpenMatador Records [2020] Making new music is always a risk for any artist with a catalog. Stray too far from what your fans know may alienate an entire group of followers while churning out the same type of songs can create a stale and flat arc for a band … Read more
Trace MountainsLost In The CountryLame-O Records [2020] In the two years since Dave Benton’s Trace Mountains released its debut, A Partner To Lean On, his life changed. Those changes include multiple big events that can completely alter your course such as the dissolution of his main band, LVL UP, which he co-founded in college, and … Read more
Once & Future Band Deleted Scenes Castle Face Records [2020] Progressive rock music in 2020 is still far from the norm but Oakland’s Once & Future Band have a flare to them that brings a modern touch to their classic ELO and Alan Parsons Project sound on their sophomore album Deleted Scenes. For this record … Read more
Wax Machine Earthsong Of SilenceBeyond Beyond Is Beyond Records [2020] Brighton’s Wax Machine comes at you with a full psychedelic sweep on their debut full length Earthsong Of Silence. The band offers a blend of jazz, folk, funk, tropicalia, and exploratory rock which is an accurate description as this record expands on the great singles and … Read more
WaxahatcheeSaint CloudMerge Records [2020] There are typically several times in a year when a record comes out that you just know it is good from the first track. Really good! That is exactly the feeling I experienced with Waxahatchee’s fifth record Saint Cloud. “Oxford” is the lead track and in the first several lines of … Read more
Best CoastAlways TomorrowConcord Records [2020] I always like a comeback story and Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino has returned to music after a 5 year absence. She honestly stated that she almost walked away from recording completely but after some solid recovery and self-care the band’s fourth album, Always Tomorrow, represents a brighter outlook on life. … Read more
Cable TiesFar EnoughMerge Records [2020] There is one word to describe lead singer-guitarist Jenny McKechnie of Cable Ties – FIERCE! You will get to know her very well on Far Enough, the Melbourne group’s sophomore album and first for Merge Records. The opening track “Hope” is really all you need to hear to get hooked … Read more
The Mr. T ExperienceMTX ForeverSounds Rad [2020] If your were around for the punk rock explosion that was helped along and spotlighted by Green Day in 1994, then you just might know The Mr. T Experience. The band actaully formed in 1985 and has a history that spans over 30 years and eleven studio albums, … Read more
Wasted Shirt Fungus IIFamous Class Records [2020] Ty Segall is back and this time he has collaborated with Brian Chippendale of Lightning Bolt to form Wasted Shirt. Their debut, Fungus II, finds both sharing the vocal duties, while Segall plays guitar, bass, and harmonizer and Chippendale is pounding on the drums. I will warn you right up front that Wasted … Read more
DisqCollectorSaddle Creek Records [2020] What is not to like about Madison Wisconsin’s Disq? They are a young five piece barley into their twenties that play a combination of power pop, indie rock, post punk and just overall have released a very catchy and carefree debut record. When the opening line of first track “Daily Routine” … Read more
Tame ImpalaThe Slow RushInterscope Records [2020] Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker is a perfectionist and he has slowly turned his musical vehicle away from the psych rock driven debut Innnerspeaker from ten years ago into the extra smooth snyth grooves that flow throughout his newest long player The Slow Rush. This move to supplying more beats … Read more
Guided By Voices Surrender Your Poppy Field GBV Inc. [2020] The 2020 release calendar finally feels official with a new album from Guided By Voices. After releasing three records in 2019, GBV is back officially with their newest album of indie rockers, Surrender Your Poppy Field. If you are a follower of Bob Pollard then … Read more
Beach BunnyHoneymoonMom + Pop Music [2020] Chicago’s Beach Bunny started out as an acoustic solo project from Lili Trifilio back in 2015 but has transformed into one of the more exciting indie rock bands today with their debut LP Honeymoon. The band has grown a consistent buzz ever since their 2018 Prom Queen EP and … Read more
Tall Tall TreesA Wave Of Golden ThingsJoyful Noise Recordings [2020] Mike Savino is Tall Tall Trees and he is probably best known as the highly talented electric banjo player for Kishi Bashi. A Wave Of Golden Things is Savino’s fourth studio album and it will probably be one of the most heartfelt records you will … Read more
Frances Quinlan Likewise Saddle Creek Records [2020] TFN Album Review: I am sure the name Frances Quinlan may not stand out to you but she is the vocalist/guitarist of the excellent indie group Hop Along and Likewise is her debut solo record under her own name. With at least 15 years of recording on her … Read more
Andy Shauf The Neon Skyline ANTI- [2020] TFN Album Review: Over rock history, the soft voice story telling singer/songwriter has been a big thing with names like Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Tim Finn and Michael Penn. The list can go on but in this modern era of music I feel like the list of recognizable … Read more
Pinegrove Marigold Rough Trade Records [2020] TFN Album Review: Ever since Pinegrove’s Cardinal release in 2016, I thought the band would have an incredible musical arc that was going nowhere but up. Of course, life is unpredictable and the band went completely quiet in November of 2017 after Pinegrove bandleader Evan Stephens Hall explained some … Read more
Beach Slang The Deadbeat Bang Of Heartbreak City Bridge Nine Records [2020] TFN Album Review: If you have followed Beach Slang since their 2014 EP, Who Would Ever Want Anything So Broken?, then you already know that the group has been a full-fledged modern day Replacements from day one. Everything from the raw guitar to … Read more
Jay Som Anak Ko Polyvinyl Records [2019] TFN Album Review: If you have been a fan of Jay Som, aka Melina Duterte, since her early work was on the Intranet (and then captured on 2016’s Turn Into) you already have a sense that some of her best work was to come. Anak Ko represents her … Read more
The Murder Capital When I Have Fears Human Season Records [2019] TFN Album Review: The debut album from Dublin’s The Murder Capital plays everything out front with its heart on its sleeve. The post-punk moodiness is dark as this group can turn the amps up on a dime and can transition from sounding like The … Read more
Paul Orwell SMUT Heavy Soul! Records [2019] TFN Album Review: Sixties influenced London rocker Paul Orwell has returned with his third record SMUT and it is a retro sounding barn burner. It’s loud, it’s brash and it does not take much time hitting any brakes. This carefree delivery by Orwell is his engaging quality and … Read more
(Sandy) Alex G House Of Sugar Domino [2019] TFN Album Review: It is hard to believe that Alex Giannascoli, aka (Sandy) Alex G, has now released three albums on Domino Records with House of Sugar. The record represents his ninth album overall, which for some artists could be their entire catalog, but at age 26 … Read more
Angel Olsen All Mirrors Jagjaguwar [2019] TFN Album Review: Angel Olsen has become one of the premiere indie voices over the last several years which was boosted by her TFN Blazing Top 5 record in 2016, My Woman. From this point in time, Olsen has been building momentum and style which has all come together … Read more