Aly & AJ Relay Stunning Scenes on ‘With Love From’
Aly & AJ’s With Love From recalls classic Americana imagery and sounds like two women reveling in the joy of creating music representing who they are.
indie pop
The Auteurs’ New Box Set Neatly Slims Down Their Legacy
While Luke Haines’ morbid British rock outfit is happy as a cult act, this box set, repackaging their 2014 reissues, makes a case for the Auteurs’ greatness.
Eyelids Channel Vintage Indie Rock on ‘A Colossal Waste of Light’
Eyelids channel Big Star, 1980s art-jangle like Let’s Active, vintage R.E.M., 1990s-toned indie guitar pop, and even a little grunge on A Colossal Waste of Light.
On Guided By Voices’ ‘La La Land’ Robert Pollard’s Voices Are Colliding
Guided By Voices’ latest lineup has helped add another tool to Robert Pollard’s songwriting toolbox on La La Land. It’s a look that they wear well.
mui zyu’s Debut ‘Rotten Bun for an Eggless Century’ Is Sonically Intriguing
Rotten Bun for an Eggless Century is a sonically interesting solo debut and mui zyu’s captivating voice gives nearly every track a worthwhile melody.
Quasi Return a Decade Later ‘Breaking the Balls of History’
Quasi have become one of the more enduring musical collaborations from the Pacific Northwest, and Breaking the Balls of History is a peak moment in their discography
Anton Barbeau Plays the Sad Clown in “Stranger” (premiere)
It’s tempting to think the “Stranger” video’s two clowns are happier versions of Anton Barbeau, from whom he is currently estranged.
Caroline Polachek Ascends to Greatness on ‘Desire, I Want to Turn Into You’
Caroline Polachek dives into the contradictory crux of the human experience on Desire, I Want to Turn Into You, an album of breathtakingly original pop songs.
Andy Schauf Uses ‘Norm’ to Ask About Love After Death
Andy Schauf’s Norm offers journeys down sonic trails that start in the same hallway but change from room to room as he ponders the big topic of love.
Gareth Koch and Martin Kennedy Soundtrack the Great Beyond on ‘Music in the Afterlife’
On Music in the Afterlife, Martin Kennedy and Gareth Koch put themselves in the running for an impossible task to make a soundtrack for eternal bliss.
Daily Worker Writes a Strong New Chapter with ‘Autofiction’
If you like mid-period Beatles and Byrds, Wilco at their lightest, the Stones at their brightest, and Big Star, you’ll like Daily Worker’s Autofiction.
Samia Searches for Sincerity on Sophomore Record ‘Honey’
With ample self-awareness and a keen sense of the surreal, Samia delivers a sonically dynamic voyage through the monstrous and merciful extremes of intimacy.
