Stuck’s New LP Is Bizarre and Surprising in a Good Way
Stuck crank up the intensity in melody and harmonic texture, layering dominant melodic lines over a foundation of chords and central themes.
Justin Vellucci
Justin Vellucci is a staff writer for PopMatters and MusicTAP, a contributor to Pittsburgh Current, and a former staffer for Popdose, Delusions of Adequacy and Punk Planet. His music writing has appeared in national magazines like American Songwriter, alt-weeklies such as Pittsburgh City Paper, The Brooklyn Rail and San Diego CityBeat, blogs Swordfish, Punksburgh and Linoleum, and the Gannett publication Jetty. He lives in Pittsburgh.
Bill Callahan Circles Himself on ‘My Days of 58’
Bill Callahan reprises some familiar themes on My Days of 58, from constructing a simulacrum of oneself through songwriting to the weight of depression.
Bonnie “Prince” Billy Celebrates Community
Bonnie “Prince” Billy’s new LP is strengthened by communal tendencies, meeting bombs in Iran and executions in Minneapolis not with clenched fists of protest, but with hugs.
Archers of Loaf Sound More Mature Than Ever on ‘Reason in Decline’
Archers of Loaf’s Reason in Decline is an excellent record from a great band that has been on a recording hiatus for the better part of two and a half decades.
The Bobby Lees’ ‘Bellevue’ Is Their Most Scorching, Definitive LP
The Bobby Lees have always rocked and rocked hard, and they continue to do so on Bellevue; that part of the formula (thankfully) remains unchanged.
Ron Anderson Releases Demos Foreshadowing His 2011 Masterwork ‘Secret Curve’
Ron Anderson’s The Ashfield Session features early takes of the Secret Curve material from Anderson’s famed PAK trio. This thing will blow your mind.
Julia Mark Creates Engaging Indie Piano Pop on ‘Keeping You’
Listeners will enjoy Keeping You, the new LP of piano-led indie pop ballads from Julia Mark, but the reasons lead to a cloudiness of thought.
Black Midi Continue Their March Into Madness with Excellent ‘Hellfire’
With their third LP Hellfire, Black Midi continue to put out adventurous and challenging music that keeps listeners on the tips of their toes.
Rachel McElhiney’s ‘I Love It Here’ Belies the Heart Beneath It All
The first thing you’ll notice about Rachel McElhiney is that deceptively powerful voice, which is a beautiful vehicle for her jazz-flecked tunes.
Pan American’s ‘The Patience Fader’ Is Mesmerizing
Pan American’s The Patience Fader mesmerizes with icy takes on pedal steel and glassy guitar, where notes flood and flicker deep into the horizon.
Perennial’s ‘In the Midnight Hour’ Is the First Great Punk LP of 2022
Perennial’s In the Midnight Hour is what you dial up on your car stereo when you’re looking to cruise with the windows down and scare your fellow drivers into a bit of submission.
Glenn Echo Strips Acoustics Bare on ‘Ellenville Sessions’
Glenn Echo’s songs can be emotive and gratifying and gravity-defying and devastating even when stripped bare as on Ellenville Sessions.