Hi! Hello! Here we are with some bite sized goodies and a taste of a some new things that we dug that came out in the last week(ish), quick fire responses to some great new music we think you should check out. This week Kate and Mike weighed in on some killer songs— give ’em a listen!
Chubby and the Gang– Violent Night/A Christmas Tale/Red Rag to a Bull. If you ask me, any time of year is the right time of year for some rock n fucking roll and why not especially so for the Christmas season? London based power pop punksters Chubby and the Gang have blessed us with just such a thing and released their take on the Holidays with “A Christmas Extravaganza,” a hard rocking, fast driving double single featuring one Christmas tune and one non holiday tune that still rips regardless. Listen to both songs below. [KH]
Guts Club– Change My Name. The heavy doom gaze/post metal trio have shared the third and final single from their upcoming album, CLIFFS/WALLS, and it builds upon the swirling barrage of feedback and doom of the first two singles, “The Gun Collector” and “CLIFFS/WALLS,” and even without having heard the final songs from the album, this trio of songs fully feels intentional and like the prelude to an entire album concept instead of just some songs thrown together on a release because they were written or recorded at the same time. This band does massive walls of noise so well and they also do emotion—LOTS OF EMOTION—perhaps even better with vocalist Lindsey Baker drilling deep into your soul with her screams of anguish surging in and out and in between the gales of feedback that form the vibrating heart of the song.
The band says via a press release that “‘Change My Name’ is a love song about “wading through a loved one’s profound grief. Grief takes on many forms and can alter the trajectory of one’s life and relationships. The song is a reflection on how obsessive love can manifest from intense grief.”
CLIFFS/WALLS releases in full 1/13/23. [KH]
Lily Mao & the Resonators– Tiger. Hot off the presses is the snarky new tune from Lily Mao & the Resonators and it gets right to the point. Following this Fall’s “Wolves,” Mao continues to lead the pack as one of Brooklyn’s most unique voices. The quiet confidence of lyrical metaphor goes head-to-head with with some rippin’ guitar, proving once again a tiger cannot change its stripes… nor would it want to. This was released in collaboration with A Diamond Heart Production. [MB]
Maraschino– Walking On Thin Ice (Yoko Ono cover). LA based electro pop artist Piper Durabo aka Maraschino is due to release her new album Hollywood Piano in March (read our thoughts on the single “Hi Desire”), and separate from that has just released a Bandcamp exclusive cover of Yoko Ono’s airy 1981 classic, “Walking On Thin Ice.” On why she wanted to cover the song, Maraschino says “‘Walking on Thin Ice’ is one of my favorites in Yoko’s catalog. It’s a timeless ripper, and the lyrics are amazing. The erratic nature of life and death, “throwing the dice in the air” and hoping for the best, and the conclusion that “when our hearts return to ashes, it’ll be just a story” kinda sums it all up, you know?”
Listen to both versions below. [KH]
Narrow Head– Gearhead. This band does the hazy grungegaze sound so well, I almost swear I’m back in the waning days of summer 1995 when I got my first taste of You’d Prefer An Astronaut. While this band does draw heavily on influences from the 90s and I hear a lot of Hum’s (and Deftones) influence in their sound, they are firmly of the now and stand shoulder to shoulder with the earlier pioneers of heavy shoegaze. This song is from their upcoming album Moments of Clarity (2/10/23 Run For Cover), and I’m very much looking forward to what the entire body of work has to offer. They’ll be touring in support of the album, but thus far only on the West Coast. Here’s hoping a return to NYC is in the works soon.
R. Ring– Def Sup. This is the second single from the upcoming album War Poems/We Rested, by the project which features Kelley Deal (The Breeders), Mike Montgomery (Ampline) and Laura King (Bat Fangs) and it’s a slinky groover, leaning heavily on a sexy bass line and sultry beat with pointed, acidic guitar lines adding tart accents throughout.
King shared about the song: “I had this beat in my head and I recorded it with Charles Chace (Speed Stick) at his Beep Wave Studio. We chopped it up a bit, then I recorded a bass track that seemed fitting. Charles added some angular guitar solos. I knew then that I had to take the tracks to Mike and Kelley to finish the song. They painted their magic on it and it really started to take shape and make sense. The words came from the excitement of a new relationship and promising self identity.”
War Poems/We Rested is due out via Don Giovanni on 1/27/23. [KH]
Ron Gallo– Yucca Valley Marshalls. Sometimes all we need is something that feels familiar, even if it’s the sharp fluorescent glow of a big box store off in the distance. On this latest track, we find the clever songwriter Gallo reflecting on a solo west coast trip where he found himself wandering around Los Angeles by himself, finding that it can be “the loneliest place on the planet if you are an outsider.” Elaborating further, he says “I took that feeling with me on a day trip to Joshua Tree and ended up stopping at the Marshalls in Yucca Valley. There’s something really sad and hilarious about seeing a glowing Marshalls sign in the middle of the desert but since chain stores are all the same inside I took it as an opportunity for some familiarity.
An astutely observational and masterfully sardonic lyricist, the new album promises to take us on a journey as Gallo “screams at the developers turning neighborhoods into unremarkable AirBnB advertisements, corporate overlords deciding how much music costs, and extremists hellbent on bringing forth an apocalypse of racial and civil destruction. It confronts the villains of our society and helps those crushed by them by finding a way to laugh at the absurdity of it all.
The album will released in full on 3/3/23 via Kill Rock Stars and a tour will follow, with stops at SXSW and hitting Brooklyn on 4/6 at Baby’s All Right. [KH]
Skull Practitioners– Exit Wounds. The NYC post-punk-psych-garage-rock trio have just announced their debut full length, Negative Stars, and released the first single, “Exit Wounds.” With the guitar sound of Jason Victor leading the charge and backed by the rock solid rhythm section of Kenneth Levine on bass and Alex Baker on drums, this first taste of the album is full of busy sounds twisting and swirling around each other in a perfectly frantic romp, coming close to the edge of chaos but never full on colliding into disordered cacophony.
All three members of the band share vocal duties throughout their songs, trading off on lead; this one sees Victor front and center on vocals. The release comes with a trippy animated video which pairs perfectly with the song. Negative Stars arrives in full on 1/20/23 via In The Red. Read more about the band and their process for the album here. [KH]
Slift– Unseen. The French psych greats have released a double single as part of Sub Pop’s singles club. The songs were recorded during the Ummon sessions and serve as a continuation/companion piece to the album, with the band elaborating on Bandcamp: “We recorded ‘Unseen’ at the end of the UMMON sessions. We had time left and we had this track that was originally supposed to be on the record, but that we had put aside later. This song was recorded live in one shot, then we added the vocals later. At the end of the song, we started to play with the feedback of the room, and we let ourselves be carried away by this drone. On re-listening, we loved it and for us it was clear, this piece of meditative sound was ‘The Real Unseen.’”
Hi! Hello! Here we are with some bite sized goodies and a taste of a some new things that we dug that came out in the last week(ish), quick fire responses to some great new music we think you should check out. This week Kate and Mike weighed in on some killer songs— give ’em a listen!
Beat Awfuls– Interstate Skeleton. The first single from the upcoming album, PAWS, this one is jangly fuzzy pop that takes a look into singer/songwriter Dave Vicini’s processing his trauma. The lyrics are raw and hit you where it hurts: I never knew what it costed But only knew what it cost us Feeling technicolor fade As I bury it away like skeletons Why do people even promise To be vulnerable and honest When what they really want it is To keep us locked in their closet like skeletons. [KH]
Blondshell– Veronica Mars. The latest in a series of singles released this year by Sabrina Teitelbaum aka Blondshell, this one also comes with the announcement that she has signed to Partisan Records. It’s a slice of grunge that seems to be on the surface an ode celebrating the show Veronica Mars, but dig a little deeper and perhaps not all is what it seems.
Teitelbaum explains “I was obsessed with the show Veronica Mars as a kid and I was revisiting it around the time I wrote this song. I wanted to sing about that childhood era when I was being exposed to a lot more than I was comfortable with. ‘Gimme shelter’ refers to the song but I’m also saying please give me shelter from graphic TV and film, from New York City, overwhelming lyrics, etc. I think the song is just about having my boundaries crossed and the effects of those transgressions (for example, growing up to think men are hot if they’re assholes).”
No word yet when a full length will arrive but she will be opening for Suki Waterhouse’s North American tour which makes a stop at Webster Hall on 1/28. [KH]
Buggin– Attitude. Do you have 51 seconds? Then strap in for the warp speed new rager from the Chicago hardcore band, back with their first new music in two years. It may be quick but it is packed full of action—complete with a chugging breakdown—before blasting away again for the last five seconds.
Lead singer Bryanna Bennett explains “For ‘Attitude’ I really wanted to tap into our biggest inspiration Bad Brains and make something positive. I was really struggling with my mental health and feeling motivated to even create anything so it just made sense to pour all my bad feelings into a song that I hope others can relate to and feel inspired by.” The song is part of the upcoming The Extermination Vol.4 comp due out 1/27 via Flatspot Records. [KH]
Church Crush– Shark Island. It’s jangle pop with teeth. The latest release from the Brooklyn nice guys is drenched in chorus shifting their clean sound a bit to sound like whole the band is wrapped up in a fuzzy organ. The choppy chunk of the verses allows a few quick moments for drummer Adam E. to break out a bit in the gaps, while the arpeggiated chorus pulls back and opens up with James O. (guitar/vocals) and Paulie V. (bass/vocals) at the helm to soar and glide us through this catchy tune. [MB]
Civic– Born In The Heat. Punk n roll pub rock from Down Under, there’s some pretty bitchin’ lead guitar work in this one, the zippy second single from the upcoming album due out 2/23/23. It’s a perfect driving fast down the highway rocker. [KH]
The HIRS Collective– Sweet Like Candy. Absolute wicked heaviness abounds on the second single from We’re Still Here, the upcoming record from the influential Philly queer grind/hardcore collective due out 3/24 (Get Better Records). The song rages from the start, a rapid fire sonic assault, but the breakdown is totally fucking brutal and the lines I CHOOSE DECAY! will resonate in your goddamn soul. The album is packed with collabs and guest spots from a plethora of artists including Soul Glo, Fucked Up, Garbage, MCR, The Locust and many, many more and this song gets some help from the likes of Maha Shami of NØ MAN, Bryan Funck from Thou and Jessica Joy Mills formerly of Less Than Jake. [KH]
Jad Fair and Samuel Locke Ward– Fate Is On Our Side. A new tune from the Half Japanese founder and long time outsider musician who has teamed up with the prolific DIY musician and zine maker Ward for a bouncy and sunny fun indie rock jam. [KH]
Jigsaw Youth– No Mercy. The Staten Island trio seem to be doubling down on the heavy with their latest, “No Mercy.” Seeming to have all but left their early grungier punkier days behind them, the machine gun drum attack and deep sea of guitars, Jigsaw Youth catapults themselves into the realm of bands like Cassyette and Tetrarch. “No Mercy” is a straightforward full on gut punch while drowning, scrambling toward the surface to fill your lungs with just enough air to scream along. Catch them opening for Sasami on 12/12. Read our thoughts on their previous single “Skin.” [MB]
Ladytron– Faces. Ladytron perfected their formula long ago and though they are releasing music with less frequency these days, they have been busy with other projects individually and have yet to put out something disappointing. Now they are back as a unit for their first new album since 2019’s self titled album with “Faces” being the latest single from their upcoming album, Time’s Arrow (1/20 Cooking Vinyl). This one is yet another a slice of the electro pop excellence they have cultivated throughout their career. [KH]
Megadose– Pig. Listen to this song at your own risk, because it WILL get stuck in your head almost immediately. The third single from the groups upcoming album, Heating Up, this power pop gem has a slinky fuzzed bass line and the kind of deceptively simple but insistent guitars that function as brain invading ear worms (in a very good way). Band leader Stephen Steen explains: “When recording ‘Pig,’ our main goal was to make the whole thing feel like it was constantly one too-tight corner away from going off the rails.I wrote the bass part first, and did my best to channel my inner Tina Weymouth. Laura delivers this perfectly, leaning into an athletic, busy playing style, but with room in the mix to breathe, and still ultimately driving the song as the whole thing crashes forward.”
The lyrics are thought provoking and a direct challenge to the concept of masculinity. Steen elaborates saying the song is “about an actual person in my life, but I kept the lyrics intentionally ambiguous to hopefully make the listener think (it is about cops? a cheating husband??). The general message is meant to be pretty clear: men, even the seemingly upstanding ones, have a sickening capacity to be, well, pigs,” Heating Up arrives on 1/23/23. [KH]
The Moss– Insomnia. Indie surf pop rockers, The Moss, have announced a new EP, Insomnia, which is the follow up to their 2021 album, Kentucky Derby. The song is a jangly, catchy ride through the emotions of a missing someone with frontman Tyke James sharing “Insomnia’ is a bittersweet song about passing the point in a relationship where you can’t sleep at night when you are away from them.” Read more here. [KH]
Nag– Repulsion. Post punk with a harder edge. This one definitely puts more emphasis on the punk aspect of the sound with a dash of darkwave meets the buzz of anarcho punk in the mix of crunchy guitars, reverb and sloshy hi-hats. It’s quick, catchy and the first single from their upcoming album Human Coward Coyote due out 1/6/23 via Convulse Records. [KH]
Pile– Poisons. I love Pile when they are at their heaviest and noisiest and that’s exactly the territory they are in on “Poisons,” the second single from their upcoming album All Fiction (2/17 Exploding In Sound). Rick Maguire explains the song is “about trying to abstain from participating in things that aren’t really good for anybody but also feeling very unaware in general, and the frustration of trying to hold both of those sentiments.” See our recent coverage of Pile at Market Hotel. [KH]
Unwed Sailor– Mais Oui. The long running post rock band from Seattle have released a few albums in the past five years and are set to add another to their catalog soon, Mute the Charm (2/10/23 via Spartan Records). Building on their existing body of work, this one is a perfect example of what this band has always done so well—hit you in your heart strings with sweeping instrumentals. [KH]
We Are Scientists– Lucky To Be Here. Long running NYC indie group We Are Scientists first captured my heart years ago with their catchy songs about being damaged and the excesses of youth/young adulthood. They’re still going strong and are set to release their eighth album, Lobes, in early 2023. They’ve released three singles so far, with the most recent being “Lucky To Be Here” which goes from quiet and contemplative to epic and sweeping and back again in just under five minutes, showcasing all the things this band is great at—big emotions and deep grooves all wrapped into one. [KH]
White Reaper– Fog Machine. Big 80s style riffs abound throughout White Reaper’s latest, with an epic hair metal shred down in the middle. This is the second single from their forthcoming album, Asking for a Ride, which is due to arrive in January. [KH]
Longtime FTA faves and feminist firebrands War On Women have been on a co-headlining tour with Canadian metallic hardcore band, Cancer Bats, and just made a stop at Saint Vitus for a high octane sweaty night packed with positive vibes. WOW played a 12 song set that saw them splitting mostly between 2018’s Capture The Flag and 2020’s Wonderful Hell, highlights being “Divisive Shit,” “Aqua Tofana,” “White Lies” and the crowd sing along ready “YDTMHTL” (even more powerful given the current climate in the post Roe cesspool we currently inhabit). They began the night with the rapid fire “In Your Path,” which set the tone for the rest of their set all the way up to the closer, their fuck off ode to TERF’s “Second Wave Goodbye” from 2015’s War On Women. They’ve been joined on this tour by fill-in drummer Stef Zaenker who is a member of Caustic Casanova. (Regular drummer Dave Cavalier is currently on tour in Europe with his other band, Black Lung.)
Cancer Bats are fresh off the release of their latest album, Psychic Jailbreak, having just come out this past spring. They brought an intense energy to the packed room, playing several songs from the album and put the crown on the evening with stellar cover of “Sabotage,” the Beastie Boys classic. Direct support came from Buffalo hardcore band Spaced who has been on the entire tour, with an opening set from locals Roll Call, who just released a six song EP, Perpetuate, on Bridge Nine (which has also released WOW’s albums).
WOW setlist: In Your Path, Aqua Tofana, Divisive Shit, Milk and Blood, White Lies, Lone Wolves, This Stolen Land, Pleasure and the Beast, YDTMHTL, Wonderfull Hell, Silence IS the Gift, Second Wave Goodbye
Scroll down for pics of the show (photos by Kevin McGann)
Hi! Hello! Here we are with some bite sized goodies and a taste of a some new things that we dug that came out in the last week(ish), quick fire responses to some great new music we think you should check out. This week Chantal, Kate and Mike weighed in on some killer songs— give ’em a listen!
And though we can’t possibly cover all the music that is released each week (we wish!), we do get to as many songs as we can. As always, if you’re in a band or from a label, don’t hesitate to reach out and let us know about you! If we dig ya, you’ll get a nod in the column. Read on to find out what we dug the last week or so and check back every Friday for more:
Atsuko Chiba– Link. The latest track from this Montreal band is pounding, psychy (and a bit mathy in some of the guitar work) and bass driven. The accompanying video is trippy and fascinating, but best avoided if you have an insect phobia. Their new album Water, It Feels Like It’s Growing is out on Jan 20 via Mothland. [CW]
Bad Bad Hats– Super America. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of their debut EP, It Hurts, the indie greats are re-issuing the EP in full (and remastered) along with demo versions of all five songs. It will also be the first time these songs are available on vinyl. Check out the brand new animated video for “Super America” for a fix of some sweet indie pop gold. [KH]
Bass Drum of Death– Head Change. The third single from Say I Won’t, the upcoming album from the long running garage trio and this one is a mid tempo rocker, dialed back from some of their early fervent work but keeping in line with the refinement in production and style we’ve heard from the first two singles “Say Your Prayers,” and “Find It.” I’ve loved getting to know a newer side of the band and the growth as much as I love their early work, so I’m very ready to find out what the rest of the record has in store. The full album drops 1/27/23 via Fat Possum. [KH]
Brian Jonestown Massacre– Fudge. The psych greats have just announced their 20h album The Future Is Your Past (2/10/23 A Recordings), and so far have released two singles, the title track and the latest, “Fudge,” which sees the band in familiar swirly psych territory, layers of guitars weaving together. [KH]
Jess Kallen– A Garden Bed of Thistle Weeds. This country-tinged indie rock song uses layers of guitars to carry Kallen’s voice along with ease, and then opens up into a louder mode—just briefly, before hitting a lovely subdued end. Their debut album isn’t planned until 2023 (via New Professor), but this is a great preview. [CW]
Jigsaw Youth– Skin. With walls of fuzz and a full distortion onslaught, the Staten Island trio pulls the heaviest of right hooks on that pay-off southpaw chorus. Ducking between belly growls and guttural screams, at one point Nastacha Beck’s guitar goes full on crunch-metal while Maria Alvarez (bass/vocals) and Alex Dmytrow (drums) bring down the thunder on rhythm. I’ve been a huge fan of this band since first catching them play a Brooklyn basement back in 2017—this is the hugest they’ve ever sounded, and I’m here for it. Catch them opening for Sasami on 12/12 at Baby’s All Right. [MB]
Los Bitchos– Los Chrismos. This cheeky UK based foursome recently released a holiday themed single and now have added a ridiculous 80s themed music video to enhance the holiday cheer. Read more about it here. [KH]
Mui Zyu– Rotten Bun. Hong Kong British artist Eva Liu aka mui zyu has announced her debut album Rotten Bun for an Eggless Century (2/24 Father/Daughter) and released the beautiful piano driven title track. Via her Bandcamp:
“As mui zyu, Hong Kong British artist Eva Liu navigates the tricky territory of ever-changing identity, merging fantasy and folklore to create a stage for self-acceptance and deliverance. On her debut full-length Rotten Bun for an Eggless Century, Liu utilizes chopped-up soundscapes, delicate industrial ambience and sweet pop melodies to introduce a character––a guide––who can be stretched across worlds to offer the catharsis of patience, perseverance and understanding. This isn’t a character formed from a desire to escape or flee the real world, but rather a way to submerge even deeper into ourselves. Rotten Bun for an Eggless Century is a reflection of everyone, and everything, that made us who we are.” [KH]
The Natural Lines– Monotony. The latest from Matt Pond (fka Matt Pond PA) this sees him evolving and building upon his existing body of work. Read more here. [KH]
Nicole Dollanganger– Runnin’ Free. This single is in fact a reworking of a demo from the Heart Shaped Bed era. The newest version features more layers of Dollanganger’s ethereal voice while piano takes the lead from the guitars. At once more delicate and with a harder pulse, it’s an interesting reworking. Her still untitled album will be out January 6th. [CW]
Omer Leibovitz– Wide Open Feeling. Another beautifully executed track by the Brooklyn songwriter. It’s that masterful understanding of melody and sound that we’ve come to expect from Leibovitz, only this time leveled up in intensity with a blend of distorted guitars overdriven just to the point where you can hear its broken bits. And lyrically, he once again again make no qualms about exposing his broken bits. [MB]
Sad 13– Wrapped. Sadie DuPuis’ annual holiday song is here and this one takes a critical poke at year end lists with a sharply worded look at the culture that has arisen around this now deeply ingrained aspect of the music industry. There are no words minced with the line “If it’s not the list, why’d you bother with listening?” the sarcasm dripping off of each word. And I’m inclined to agree with the sentiment because so much that never makes a major list still matters, very deeply, but gets lost in the shuffle of the popularity contest. It all begs the question, why not just listen to what you love and forget the lists?!
(That being said, FTA does participate in the tradition because it can be fun and I like to check out stuff from smaller outlets because you can find some real gems that way, but we don’t rank our list nor do we present one as an entity or “Best of.” Rather we list ours as a “favorites” with each individual contributor sending their own as a snapshot of what they loved over the year. My personal one will be alphabetical this year to avoid a hierarchy like structure. What can I say? It’s the punk rock in me.) [KH]
Slow Fiction– Top 10 Movie Scenes. Take 1, take 2. The arty Brooklyn indie rockers drop the first single marked for their upcoming 2023 self-titled EP. This track is pure sweet melancholy to the point you can feel the emotion dripping from every instrument. The bass weeps over the somber heartbeat, giving way for the guitars and vocals to ebb and then soar. Just allow yourself to be swept up, because they’ve got a hold on you anyway. [MB]
Tropical Fuck Storm– The Golden Ratio. The art punks from Down Under have just announced a new 12″ and amazingly started beef with Zayn Malik in the process (maybe). Grab your popcorn and read more here. [KH]
Weird Nightmare– Our Love Will Still Be There (Troggs cover). Alex Edkins’ (Metz) side project, Weird Nightmare, has released a fuzzy power pop version of the 1966 song by The Troggs. The original appears on The Troggs debut album, From Nowhere, the same album that brought us the cool classic “Wild Thing.” Listen to both versions below. [KH]
Zulu– Fakin’ Tha Funk (You Get Did). The epic LA based powerviolence band has announced their first full length, A New Tomorrow, and released the first single which follows their two previous EPs. At just over a minute long, the song is a heavy crusher and will vibrate your skull through your headphones (in all the best ways). The album arrives 3/3/23 via Flatspot and will feature guest spots from Pierce Jordan (Soul Glo), Paris Roberts (Truth Cult), and Obioma Ugonna (Playtime). They will head out on tour in support of the record with Show Me The Body, the tour hits Brooklyn Steel on 3/24/23. [KH]
Hello and welcome to FTA’s list of what we are excited for this Bandcamp Friday, aka every music nerds favorite day! A bunch of us weighed in on what we’ve been into lately and we’ve got plenty of goodies old and new for you to dig into over a wide range of genres. But don’t take our word for it, dive into these tracks/albums and judge for yourself. Feel free to let us know what you think and tell us your suggestions.
It’s the last BC Friday of the year and we’ve had a bunch of great lists over the last several months which you can check out for plenty of inspiration on variety of tunes for you to explore. Check them out here: April, May, June, September, October and November.
Kate Hoos- Editor In Chief
Feces– Black Mold. Need a little sludge in your life? Then Feces has you covered with Black Mold, their 2019 EP that perfectly blends noise, sludge and grunge. Gross bodily secretions and hazards to breathing aside, this is some Bleach era shit and I can most definitely get behind that. (One of Kurt Cobain’s early pre-Nirvana bands was called Fecal Matter, so it tracks influence wise.) My favorite track is the closer, “Brown Cloud,” it’ll dig right inside your brain with its mesmerizing Sting Ray bass line and gang vocals. It may or may not also be about shit (but true to form, the lyrics are muddy and my old battered ear drums can’t quite make them out).
Rotten Blossom– Let’s Hang Out.I hate you! You’re so mean! Piece of shit! You’re so mean! We are heading into the winter months and I live in NYC so those two things right there are making me extra cranky lately. But all you really need to make you feel better when you’re cold and packed in like sardines in a subway car is some bratty fucking punk rock. This now defunct band (I think anyway) from Honolulu has that in spades, blending riot grrrl attitude with zippy hardcore shreds and I’m here for it.
Teen Mortgage– Life/Death. The riffs are heavy and hypnotic, and pack more than a healthy dose of grungey surfy psych which for me, has been a huge theme for my 2022. This 5 song EP was released in 2019 and the band recently released a new single so hopefully more new tuneage is on the horizon for them soon.
Billy Faith- Contributing Writer
Aaron West and the Roaring Twenties– We Don’t Have Each Other. Wonder Years vocalist Dan Campbell’s side project, a concept band. This first album begins the fictional story of lead singer West, with lyrics as detailed and potent as a novel and emo folk music that sounds like it’s coming out of a small, bare apartment across from the Neutral Milk Hotel.
Annalibera– Nevermind I Love You. In this dark debut from the Des Moines band, Anna Gebhardt and company combine influences ranging from shoegaze to 90s electro pop, and Americana church music to Enya, creating a midwest indie rock appropriate for sitting in the pitch black fields of Iowa at night, seeing the blinking lights of the windmills in unison that look like an alien invasion.
Kero Kero Bonito– Bonito Graduation. On the second album by the pop trio, they streamline their J-Pop and hyper pop influences to create a one of the most stunning, well produced, and re-listenable pop albums in recent memory, all while providing subtle tongue and cheek criticism of collegiate and post-grad society. Add in the lyrics in both English and Japanese and you have an album that is truly unlike anything else.
Scratchy Blanket– Something For Everyone. Shannon Keating fronts the Pittsburgh band whose infectious emo indie guitar pop perfectly invokes the feeling of being in the room depicted on the album cover, complete with sleeping cat and all.
Diskette Park– Hypomnesia. 80’s influenced synthwave, perfect for neon lights and night driving. Get it on cassette!
Lil Sluggers– Bells Below. Billing themselves as “theatrical art rock” this album has more than a little alt-country flair, and is a rollicking good time.
Psyche– All Things Pass Into The Night. This 10th anniversary edition of the original EP from the legendary band includes new tracks and remixes and will have all the goths dancing in the club.
Kate Bell- Contributing Writer
Big Joanie– Back Home. If you don’t know about the Black feminist punk band Big Joanie, it’s time to get acquainted. Released last month on Kill Rock Stars, Back Home is their first full-length release since 2018’s Sistahs (which is also fantastic). This superstar trio has been rocking the London DIY scene since 2013, and they will be on tour in the United States this spring. I got my tickets already for their show at Union Pool, and I suggest you do the same.
Smiling Beth– A Piano Walks Home Alone at Night. My band had the pleasure of sharing a stage with Smiling Beth a couple of weeks ago, and she was so original and refreshing. Beautiful voice, rippling keys and electronic looping, and Bjork-esque experimental energy. Jean Delkaste (aka Smiling Beth) recently moved to NYC from LA, and right now is playing solo (she formerly had a full band back in California). This avant-goth gay piano demon is truly unique.
Savak– Human Error/Human Delight. The same night I discovered Smiling Beth, I also finally got to see Savak live! These indie rock heavy hitters released a new album, Human Error/Human Delight, in April of this year, and later this month will release Error/Delight which features remixes of the album created by other musicians (such as Mogwai and Dan Friel).
Weeping Icon– Ocelli. I was among the fortunate to be at the EP release show that Weeping Icon played at Alphaville a couple of weeks ago (see my review) Ocelli builds on the band’s exciting first self-titled release from 2019, and brings more of their pleasing political noise punk. You can check out Mike Borchardt’s FTA review of Ocellihere.
Kevin McGann- Contributing Photographer
Disq– Desperately Imagining Someplace Quiet. Recently covered by FTA at their Baby’s All Right gig (see pics), this Wisconsin based band expands on their 2020 debut album. Whether its strumming along to a 60’s sounding pop jam, or rocking out to a 90’s indie vibe, or throwing some electronics/sound effects into the mix, Desperately Imagining finds Disq pushing themselves further and the album is all the better for it.
Jockstrap– I Love You Jennifer B. Fun, eclectic, dizzying (in the best way) debut by UK duo Jockstrap. Fellow music/theater graduates, Georgia Ellery and Taylor Skye, bring the drama on a diverse set of tracks that at times recall Bjork’s body of work which can waiver between accessible and inaccessible and sometimes within the same track.
Sorry – Anywhere But Here. North London’s Sorry released their sophomore album last month. “Tell Me” is a standout— it’s a stark look at post-breakups and builds from its quiet intro to a densely layered conclusion between guitar, synth, and vocal trade-off between Asha Lorenz and Louis O’Bryen. Where Human League was exuberantly asking “Don’t you want me, baby?” nearly 40 years ago, Sorry’s response is a more despondent, “Tell me where the sun will go down, I’ve been standing here on my own.”
Mike Borchardt- Contributing Writer
Dead Stars– Their entire catalog. The band is back. Maybe? We think. The fuzz rockers just played a show at the new Main Drag (see our coverage) which was their first time together on stage since before the pandemic. We hope this means there’s new stuff down the pike, but for now binge on their entire back catalog which is bursting catchy grunge-pop goodies.
Dead Tooth– Sporty Boy.Trash Casual heroes’ frantic ripper of a track to follow up their “Pig Pile” masterpiece from earlier this year. Read my full review here.
LaPeche– Blood in the Water. We recently covered their new single “Slight” (read here) but their 2021 LP Blood in the Water from New Granada Records is a nearly perfect record and spends a lot of time on our turntable at home.
Nevva– Fer Sher. One of our favorite records by one of our favorite bands. This punk rock trio slaps. Slaps hard. Nevva 4 eva!!
sock jock– anothernovember. The latest release from Totally Real Records is an indie rock gem and a beautiful piece of music. Read my full review here.
Fritz– Pastel. I recall when I first heard Pastel back in February 2021, thinking that I had discovered my first top ten album of the year (2021). A coming of age album by a 20 year old female from Newcastle, the lyric content theoretically shouldn’t have resonated with this old New York dude at all, but sonically, from the opening reverb heavy guitar strumming and the pounding thumping of the drums on “Sweetie,” I was immediately hooked.
The album is shoegazey but not quite shoegaze. It’s also dream poppy but likewise, not quite. I’m not sure if it was done on purpose but Tilly Murphy’s (FRITZ is pretty much her project) vocals are presented way low in the mix which I kind of like about the album, being as I said earlier, its the music and instrumentation which I truly love about this album anyway.
Unfortunately we haven’t gotten any new material from FRITZ in 2022, nor have we been blessed with them visiting our shores. But with that being said, Pastel has crushed the test of time and still more than stands up after almost 2 years of enjoyment.
Ghum– Bitter. GHUM hails from London and Bitter is their debut full length. Having released a pair of EP’s, The Coldest Fire and GHUM prior to pandemic, the subsequent lockdown didn’t do these women any favors in terms of getting their name out there. What it did was allow them to seriously hone their craft and sound. Bitter is, to say the least, a massive album. Massive in sonic terms not necessarily size, clocking in at just under 40 minutes. Lead vocalist, Laura Guerrero reminds me of PJ Harvey from the early 90’s. Originally from Spain she alternates singing in both English and Spanish. She also, stylistically, brings to mind a little bit of Jehnny Beth from the first Savages album. And as long as I’m bringing up Savages, this band reminds me a lot of that Savages feel. Upon first listen, the dark, subversive grit which I originally felt with Silence Yourself is exactly what I felt while listening to a song like “Shallow” from this LP. With its swirling guitar lines cascading into a whirlwind of angst, guitarist JoJo Khor emits a direct throwback to the understated yet mesmerizing melodic noodling which we came to love from Gemma Thompson.
One other thing, as I was listening to Bitter, I found myself turning up the volume on every song to the point that I was maxed out by the time it was over. It’s one of those albums which you wish you had an 11 on your volume control for.
