The long running indie greats have announced their ninth album, The Price of Progress, and shared the first single from it, the driving rocker “Sideways Skull.” The song “is a rocking song about rock and rollers,” says frontman Craig Finn. “In this case, they’ve been taken out of the game for a bit of rest, but still keep their dreams alive as they discuss past glories.” Going on to say “We loved the big sound of this when Tad Kubler brought it into the band, and the studio performance of it felt especially joyful. We’re happy to put this forth as a first look at The Price of Progress, and the album’s title even comes from this song.”
Additionally, the band will celebrate their 20th anniversary with a busy schedule of shows throughout the year which begins on 1/28 at Music Hall of Williamsburg and will be a full circle moment for the band. They share “This will be a special event, with the show taking place exactly 20 years after the band’s first live performance, on the same site (then North Six). Two Dark Birds will be the special opener at Music Hall, harkening back to the January 2003 show where The Hold Steady opened for Two Dark Birds’ Steve Koester at North Six.”
All current tour dates below. Check out our recent coverage from night two of their Massive Nights 2022 run.
1/28- Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
2/2- Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
2/3- Washington DC @ Black Cat
2/4- Philadelphia, PA @ Brooklyn Bowl
3/10- London, UK @ Electric Ballroom
3/11- London, UK @ Electric Ballroom
3/12 London, UK @ Colours Hoxton
5/12- New York, NY @ WFUV Highline Bash
6/30- Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed
7/1- Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed
7/2- Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
11/29-12/2- Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bowl for Massive Nights 2023
The Price of Progress will release in full on 3/31 via Positive Jams. Listen to “Sideways Skull” below:
Welcome to my list of what I loved 2022! It was a huge year for great releases and I’m so excited to share with you the things I loved the most. This is not presented as or meant to be a definitive “best of” list, the contributors who wished to send lists did so and we all made our own lists of what we love. All of them serve as personal snapshots into what we were listening to and loved rather than a definitive list as one monolith called “Full Time Aesthetic”. The lists are in alphabetical order and as such, aren’t ranked, it’s just about sharing what we love and care about the most aka “tell me a punk runs this blog without telling me a punk runs this blog.”
This blog truly is a sum of its parts and I feel that all of the lists reflect that so well and run a massively wide gamut of sounds, styles, and level of notoriety—from slick pop records by the world’s biggest stars recorded on million dollar budgets with famous producers down to lovingly self recorded/released DIY noise punk gems from the local NYC music community and beyond. Additionally, it was very important to me on my own list to make sure I was representing smaller releases that may not get much other attention on these types of lists and to shine a bit of a light on them. Some of these releases I’ve had more time with than others since some came out later than others, but no matter when they arrived, all of them were crucial in some way during my 2022 and will stick with me for many years to come.
I’m sure on this list in particular, you will see a good number of things you aren’t familiar with and you may also be surprised to see certain things not on it. I listened to far more music than what is represented here, a lot of it was fantastic and I loved it, but these are the releases that truly resonated most with me and I found myself going back to again and again, enthralled by what was contained within. I hope that if you see things you haven’t heard/heard of before, you’ll take the time to dig in and explore because I promise there are absolutely amazing releases front to back on this list (and the contributors lists as well). I founded this blog and continue to work really hard on it (and so do each and every one of the contributors) purely because I love sharing the gift and the joy of music with everyone I meet. It is a labor of love before it is anything else and I care deeply about every artist I personally cover, as does everyone who shares their time and talents with FTA, and by extension, all of our readers. Please enjoy this gift of amazing music from me to you.
If you missed our list last year, it has loads of heavy hitters from 2021 so be sure to check it out. Also be sure to check out the FTA contributors list of favorites from 2022 which you can find here. Both lists are PACKED with incredible releases from the past two years and have plenty to explore.
Welcome to the FTA contributors lists of what they loved in 2022! This is not presented as or meant to be a “best of” list and each list comes from the individual contributors as their own (and as such, you will see some repeats along the way). They serve more as personal snapshots into what we were all listening to and loved rather than a definitive list as one monolith called “Full Time Aesthetic”. We all have pretty different tastes and things we love and we all bring just a little something different to the table. Additionally, the lists are in alphabetical order and as such, aren’t ranked, it’s just about sharing what we love and care about the most aka “tell me a punk runs this blog without telling me a punk runs this blog.”
This blog truly is a sum of its parts and all of the lists reflect that so well and run a massively wide gamut of sounds, styles, and level of notoriety—from slick pop records by the world’s biggest stars recorded on million dollar budgets with famous producers down to lovingly self recorded/released DIY noise punk gems from the local NYC music community and beyond. But no matter what, each and every album or EP on this list meant something to all of us and was a big part of our 2022.
There will may be things you’re surprised to see (or perhaps not see) here, but we hope if you see something you’re unfamiliar with, you’ll dig in and explore it more and perhaps find a new love. If you missed our list last year, it is packed with heavy hitters from 2021 and full of plenty more to explore so be sure to check it out. Also be sure to check out our EIC’s Letter from the Editor which contains her list of all of her favorites from 2022; check that out here.
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.”
The song has been a hit among fans and the band is looking forward to being on the road to interact with their fans in 2023. Drummer Willie Fowler sharing “No matter what we do, we want to make sure the songs are fun to play live,” he says. “We pride ourselves on being a band people want to see live.” See below for tour dates:
12/31/22- Salt Lake City, UT @ Last Hurrah 2022
1/25/23- Boise, ID @ The Shredder
1/26/23- Portland, OR @ Holocene
1/27/23- Seattle, WA @ Barboza
1/28/23- Vancouver, BC @ Fox Cabaret
1/30/23- San Francisco, CA @ Cafe Du Nord
1/31/23- Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst Atrium
2/1/23- Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room
2/2/23- Santa Barbara, CA @ SOhO Restaurant & Music Club
2/3/23- San Diego, CA @ Voodoo Room at House of Blues
2/4/23- Tucson, AZ @ Hotel Congress – Club Stage
2/7/23- Dallas, TX @ Club Dada
2/8/23- Austin, TX @ Antoine’s Nightclub
2/10/23- Denver, CO @ Globe Hall
2/11/23- Fort Collins, CO @ The Coast
5/12/23-5/14/23- Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Block Party
Booking agency Ground Control Touring is teaming up with Noise For Now, a “national initiative that enables artists and entertainers to connect with and financially support grassroots organizations that work in the field of Reproductive Justice, including abortion access” to present a one day benefit concert series that will see shows happening in Chicago, New York, and LA on January 28, 2023.
Billed as “A Night of music in support of abortion funds, community, and bodily autonomy” each show will feature stacked lineups of some of the best current indie artists lending their support to this vital cause. 100% of the proceeds will benefit Noise For Now who will allocate the funds raised to local independent abortion clinics and funds in each region.
Noise For Now recently released the Good Music To Ensure Safe Abortion Access To All compilation which was available on Bandcamp exclusively for 24 hours on October 7th and featured a who’s who of indie music lending their support to raise money for Abortion Care Network, Brigid Alliance and Noise for Now. The comp went on to raise $230,000.
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.
