Man on Man Rock Out with Gay Love on ‘Provincetown’
Man on Man excel at delivering pop hooks in various ways across rock genres, and with ten tracks at 42 minutes, there’s plenty of playful joy on Provincetown.
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Of Montreal’s Pandemic-fueled Freewave Lucifer Is a Challenging Listen
Of Montreal’s Freewave Lucifer was inspired by and created during COVID’s isolation. Here and there is a catchy moment, but those bits are rarely repeated.
Squirrel Flower Makes Self Isolation Sound Good on ‘Planet (i)’
Inspired by Portishead and head injuries, Squirrel Flower’s Ella Williams finds her voice on her second album, Planet (I).
Jay Som and Palehound Join Forces As Bachelor on the Inventive ‘Doomin’ Sun’
Bachelor is a collaboration between Palehound’s Ellen Kempner and Jay Som’s Melina Duterte. On Doomin’ Sun, they join seamlessly and skillfully.
Jay Som Is Not Saving Dream Pop. It Doesn’t Need to Be Saved.
Jay Som speaks to PopMatters about handling expectations, agents of change, and how her newfound sobriety influenced her new album Anak Ko.
Jay Som’s ‘Anak Ko’ Embraces Difficult Change
DIY musician Jay Som's Anak Ko exudes tentativeness in the face of subtle personal upheaval, but a veil of motherly tenderness offsets the loneliness and desperation.
American Football Produce That Sweet Melancholy on ‘American Football (LP3)’
The slow motion success story of a '90s college band from Urbana, Illinois, takes another unlikely turn with American Football (LP3).
Demons, Caravaggio, and Feminism: Xiu Xiu on ‘Girl with Basket of Fruit’
Sparked by Caravaggio's Boy with Basket of Fruit, Xiu Xiu's Jamie Stewart sees the title of their latest work, Girl with Basket of Fruit, as a comment on feminist politics and the precarious role of women in the world.
Julia Jacklin Lays Bare Experiences with Love and Heartbreak on Frank New album ‘Crushing’
Life, love, heartbreak: none of it is particularly novel as musical material, but on Crushing, Julia Jacklin lets us learn from her experiences with her heart on her sleeve.
Xiu Xiu Produce Another Work of Chaotic Essence in ‘Girl With a Basket of Fruit’
Returning after the very strong Forget, the experimental band Xiu Xiu returns with their new album, revisiting their more chaotic and unpredictable self in order to further their sound.
David Bazan Rises Like a ‘Phoenix’ with Pedro the Lion
With his return to Pedro the Lion, David Bazan searches for true self by reckoning with his past on this return to form that is Phoenix.
Jacco Gardner Turns His Psych Pop to the Night on ‘Somnium’
Dutch multi-instrumentalist Jacco Gardner's wispy, pastoral psychedelia takes on a nocturnal edge on new album, Somnium.