New Music

Foreign Fields – “Glowworm”

May 15, 2024

Coming to you from the badger state (Wisconsin), indie rock duo Foreign Fields brings us their latest with “Glowworm.” Made up of Brian Holl and Eric Hillman, they recorded this track along with “Faultlines” and “Damages” with engineer Brian Joseph – who has previously worked with popular acts like Bon Iver and Sufjan Stevens. Unsurprisingly, you can hear some similarities and while very much their own act you could certainly imagine them opening for either artist as an opener at any venue in the US. “Glowworm” has a distinct folk mouthfeel in a similar vein to Band of Horses, but it adds in a sort of electronica undertone that is both interesting and welcome. Speaking to the track, specifically written about watching his daughter grow up: “Most of the time I’m ecstatic to watch her grow up, but there have been moments where I find myself trying everything I can[...]

wine pride – “Sunshower”

May 15, 2024

North Carolina based wine pride‘s latest is “Sunshower” and we’re lucky to have the chance to hear it and share it with you over at the BLOG. Bass, guitar and distorted vocals bring a fun low-fi/new wave/shoegaze (shoewave-fi?) vibe reminiscent of acts from across the pond and stateside – specifically The Cure (you may have heard of them) and bands like DIIV or Day Wave. wine pride finds a way to honor the new while surging forward with fresh ideas and composition. The intro bass quickly gives way to light guitar interspersed with Aaron Felger’s warped vocals – operating on a similar wavelength as the guitar (like, actual literal wavelength which creates a fun echo chamber of sound). If you enjoy “Sunshower” be sure to give The Lost EP a listen – it clocks in at less than twenty minutes and was a perfectly timed listen for my short commute[...]

EVNTYD – “Sunday”

May 14, 2024

Austin based Julián Berdegué, the brains behind EVNTYD (‘eventide’) brings us their latest with “Sunday.” Written about a walk home on Sunday morning after a weekend bender and the (strangely) uplifting sadness that comes with it, Berdegué hits hard with this guitar-forward banger-and-a-half and doesn’t let up. Using the spare time brought on by the pandemic, Berdegué, having already been a proficient in guitar, taught himself bass, drums, and piano for his previous self-titled album. This dedication to craft carried over to the Watershed EP, upon which “Sunday” resides. The enmeshed shoegaze sound is a fun, ever-evolving genre that started oh-so-long ago with your Cocteau Twins and My Bloody Valentines, but is carried on and honed by bands like EVNTYD (and their contemporaries DIIV and Alvvays). It’s not a “you’ve heard one, you’ve heard them all” scenario; you’ll always find a new riff or sound you didn’t hear before and[...]

Bonfire Vanity – “Key to the City of No Regrets”

May 14, 2024

“Key to the City of No Regrets” is the latest from NYC based four piece Bonfire Vanity, who are apparently very talented when it comes to song writing, song names, and band names. With a title like that there’s just no telling what you’re getting into, but thankfully your pals at the BLOG gave it a perusal. The verdict? A chill shoegaze jam with impeccably crafted vocals, showcasing (or… shoecasing) the entire band’s talents as all four members have songwriting credits. and can recommend it strongly. The track begins with a synth/guitar duo that meshes together and diverge throughout; intermingling with the vocals in a perfect balance betwixt. While four minutes is a little long for a punk track, it is the perfect amount of time for a shoegaze track. Fans of DIIV and Wild Nothing would find a lot to enjoy here, plus it’s always exciting to hear a[...]

Laurel – “45 Degrees”

May 7, 2024

45 Degrees is the latest from LA based Laurel Arnell-Cullen, aka Laurel, released in anticipation of her forthcoming album “Palpitation” due out June 14th. This is one hundred percent a delightful pop romp, with Laurel’s impeccable pipes blazing the way. I know I mention it a lot, but having played bass, I can’t help but notice the sick bass line throughout the track meshing with light synth effects and occasional fleeting guitar. Fans of Lorde, Charli XCX, or Florence + The Machine’s brand of pop would find a lot to enjoy, and then some, with Laurel’s talents. Speaking to the track Laurel had this to say: “The love you feel is so deep, yet the life you live in this love is lighthearted, heady, euphoric, and youthful. It sends you crazy when you are not near them, they are the one that can cool you down like a breeze on[...]

Paris ’82 – “Lost My Way”

May 7, 2024

“Lost My Way” is the latest single from Paris ’82, a project from electronica singer/songwriter Ethan Farmer. I couldn’t find much info on him other than his IG and X; but through the intriguing mystique, he seems like a cool dude from what I could see. The track itself is incredibly groovy and even me, who can’t carry a rhythm to save my life, was able to bump my head to the beat with little difficulty (I might even be able to dance, because it’s just that dang good). The song itself is about personal struggles and strength, giving an even more uplifting message to the whole shebang. Anyone who is into EDM, electronic music, or pop in general would find a lot to enjoy here, with Farmer’s approach encompassing all genres seamlessly. You’d be hard pressed to find a note out of place, as you lose yourself to the[...]

néomí – “talk shit”

May 7, 2024

“talk shit” is the latest from Neomi Speelman, better know by her stage name néomí, off of her album “somebody’s daughter.” We’ve covered her her previously here, and not much has changed on our thoughts; s stunning folk-bedroom-dream pop-aesthetic in the vein Phoebe Bridgers, Bon Iver, or Big Thief. “talk shit” is an understated gem on an album full of them – a diamond in a field of diamonds, if you will. Instrumentally this is a guitar-forward track with a cool wispy effect thrown in (I think a guitar, but maybe a synth – you’ll see what I mean) that meshes incredibly well with Speelman’s vocals. She employs the less-is-more effect to great aplomb that you can’t help be sucked in by; the swirling vocals and effects are an auditory treat. You can see the music video embedded below or check out the track (plus the rest of the album)[...]

🐸Siblings🐸 x Heavy in Pocket x quinn bee – “Self Thru Hell”

May 4, 2024

“Self Thru Hell” is the latest from brother sister duo Quinn and Iko B, (aptly named Siblings) who may or may not be frogs – we’re still not sure. “Self Thru Hell” starts out with a thicc bass riff and brings in some effects and drums, giving off a 2010 LCD Soundsystem vibe. The beat even feels a little bit like it could have been a disco groove, which definitely takes some talent to wrangle into a track… It can often hop away from you (sorry, there may be like one or two more frog puns). quinn bee and Heavy in Pocket, the other artists credited on this track, both seem quite talented as well and well worth checking out in their own rights. Difficult to ascertain who did what on a track usually, but based on what I could see on Spotify this was written by Quinn Brodsky (quinn[...]

Ski Team – “Thank You Jalen Brunson”

May 4, 2024

Ski Team is the brainchild of Lucie Lozinski, and “Thank You Jalen Brunson” is her latest (Jalen Brunson is the point guard for the Knicks, for the sports averse). Hilariously written as a follow up and refutation to her previous song 2020’s “Knicks Suck,” this is a cheeky pop song and a love letter to a team that has caused no small amount of grief to their fans (but it’s okay, they’re in round two year). The track itself is filled with light poppy/jazzy accompaniment; a shimmering piano here, a bass riff thrown in here and there. Lozinski’s vocals are definitely the focus here though, because, quite frankly, she has a lovely voice that could give someone whose name rhymes with Sailor Tw““““““““ift a run for her money. The sports references will be lost on non-sports people, but a few pop culture references thrown in will elicit a giggle. Be[...]

Faded Shades – “What I’m on About”

May 4, 2024

“What I’m On About” is the latest from Faded Shades, a rockin’ trio based out of southern London. It was written about a debaucherous night in Amsterdam, specifically a “recollection of the frayed edges between tripping and reality” (gee, I hope they’re more careful; you might fall). This track is filled to the brim with energetic guitars and bombastic vocals; you can tell these guys punch way above their weight when it comes to sound. I of course mean this in a good way, like they know they belong in a stadium but will still rock you the fuck out with the same intensity at medium venue on a Friday night. It’s really easy to make the comparison to fellow countrymen Rolling Stones (or Oasis), or a rollicking act like Catfish and the Bottlemen, but these are shallow comparisons and don’t capture the whole picture. Give “What I’m on About” a[...]

The Legends – “Secret Shine”

May 2, 2024

“Secret Shine” is the tightly produced single from Swedish band The Legends. Spearheaded by Johan Angergård, who has his hands in a lot of projects including Club 8, who we’ve covered a couple times here and here. Additionally, he’s involved with Acid House Kings and Eternal Death and apparently has a penchant for coming up with excellent band names and being stylish as fuck. Seriously, do a Google image search of this man and tell me he doesn’t look friggin’ cool. The track itself is obviously some type of trick. My buddy Nick could probably explain why, but this track clocks in at 1:40 and does not feel that long or short. Paradoxical? Absolutely. Something with time signatures? Time travel? Who can say? The guitar and bass mesh together in a sort of post punkish/shoegazy harmony, reminding me a bit of bands like Alvvays or Best Coast. You can hear[...]

Joyer – “Wake Up”

May 2, 2024

“Wake Up” is the latest from slowcore brother duo Joyer, off of their album Night Songs. We’ve previously covered Nick and Shane Sullivan with their prior single “Star” here. Interestingly enough, “Wake Up” is the track right before “Star” on the album, with the latter providing a bit more upbeat energy from the former. “Wake Up” is very much a guitar-forward track, featuring a steady stream of distorted geetar that meshes oh so well with Sullivan’s whisper-like vocals (picture perfect, considering the subject). The last minute or so of the track gave me some early Modest Mouse vibes; a sort of extended outro that seems to end just as it coalesces. Fans of Yo La Tengo, They Are Gutting A Body of Water, or SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE would find a lot to enjoy not only with “Wake Up,” but also the album as a whole. You can hear the track on[...]

andstill – “たりない”

April 30, 2024

“たりない” or (from what I could gather) “not enough/insufficient” is the latest from mysterious indie group (or person) andstill. I’m usually pretty good with finding stuff on the internet, but andstill seems to be relatively new and is virtually nowhere that I could find. The track itself is, in a word, beautiful. In more than one word it’s an impeccably crafted bedroom pop track with a nice inclusion of electronica sensibilities. You’ll also be very confused at a certain point that I won’t ruin and think that you’re listening to an entirely different song (in a good way). I’m assuming Yuki Nitta, the person credited as the composer and lyricist, is probably the meat and potatoes of andstill. You can hear “たりない” on Spotify.

+/- {Plus/Minus} – “Gondolier”

April 30, 2024

“Gondolier” is the latest from +/- {Plus/Minus} and a follow-up from the first track released from the single, Borrowed Time. We actually wrote about that first track here, and the Blog’s opinion on +/- hasn’t changed much; a solid line-up of childhood friends with more than twenty years experience playing together (that, and they’re quite talented). While having some similarities with “Borrowed Time,” “Gondolier” is the more grounded of the two tracks but that’s not to say it’s boring (quite the opposite, in fact). Even at seven minutes long, “Gondolier” is the perfect warmup: the synth meshes well with a straightforward guitar with a steady diet of drums keeping the track going. The three minute mark is where things start to get trippy, so be sure to be sitting down (you’ll see what I mean). Fans of the late Elliot Smith, Tame Impala, or just good-old-fashioned indie rock twinkling will find[...]

Say Anything – “ON CUM”

April 28, 2024

I had heard that Say Anything was still around and rockin’ out, but this is my first opportunity to hear something brand spankin’ new since Is a Real Boy… (goodness, I feel old). Without too much knowledge of everything in between, this sounds like a return to form for Say Anything, and that’s certainly a good thing. We’ve all been through a lot since 2005 and “ON CUM” (LOL) reflects that. Speaking to “ON CUM” (lol) Max Bemis’ had this to say: “ON CUM” is an ode to the sanctity of having a second song on any uppity record that at least attempts to truly ‘knock.’ The ‘chopping steak’ beat being included is the evidence we weren’t content to only half-knock when ‘Monkey Wrench’ still exists.” The combination of Bemis’ voice cutting through the procession of guitars (so many guitars) and that trademark sass really brought me back, and will[...]