Latest Posts

Bo Milli – “Chewing Gum”

October 25, 2023

Fresh off her latest EP, Making Friends, Emilie Østebø brings us her latest single “Chewing Gum” under her stage name Bo Milli. Hailing from Bergen, Norway, we’ve covered Bo Milli a few times (you can find those here). “Chewing Gum” is a fun track with a rollicking guitar that gives way to a slick bass line that would make my bass player friends go “nice.” I felt the grunge 90’s vibe with Østebø’s focused yet relaxed boppin’ lyrics. While being grouped in with other indie luminaries Soccer Mommy, Bully, and Phoebe Bridgers may seem like a daunting task for a 23 year old, she had this to say: … Just kidding I have no idea. I’m sure it’s probably flattering or humbling at a certain level but just let her make her music. She did have this to say on the track though: “‘Chewing Gum’ is a macho-anthem expressed with unconvincing[...]

Ruth Radelet – “Shoot Me Down”

October 25, 2023

LA-based Ruth Radelet, she of The Chromatics fame, brings us her newest track, “Shoot Me Down.” Boasting a wispy dream pop aesthetic, Radelet’s voices cuts through the synth and guitar as she bares her soul about a not-so-great evening. Speaking to the song, she had this to say: “Although this song is very personal to me, I think it tells a story that many people can relate to. It started out as a sad girl piano ballad, written after a particularly bad night, and in the end became one of the most fun tracks I have ever worked on.” You might laugh, but the intro reminded me a bit of The Edge’s unique strumming found on a lot of U2 albums, while the song overall gave me a Beach House or Warpaint vibe. Quiet and understated, you can tell Radelet is still very much a master of her craft both[...]

Best Noodles In Town – “Host”

October 25, 2023

Indianapolis emo/alt three piece Best Noodles In Town (BNIT) recently dropped their track, “Host,” and we at the blog were pretty dang impressed. Released October 17, “Host” showcases the band’s slick composition of polished guitar and heartfelt vocals that bring to mind Hot Mulligan or Microwave while also channeling the New Found Glories of yesteryear. As a whole, you can tell they’re giving it their all at being an original act and not just a rehash of the emo acts of the aughts. They sneak in a backup screamo scream partway through the track that sounds fantastic and, having tried to sing along to screamo, I can say a proper scream is harder than it looks. Be sure to check out “Host” over on Spotify or Bandcamp, released in anticipation of their EP due out at the end of the year. Best Noodles In Town · Host

Fake Shape – “Black Bear”

October 25, 2023

Hamilton, Ontario based indie experimental four piece, Fake Shape, brings us their latest single “Black Bear.” With the basic drums/bass/guitar that most bands implement in some way or another, Fake Shape also incorporates the trumpet adjacent flugelhorn. Side note, I’m sorry to anyone who ever taught me about music in high school because I’m sure you mentioned a flugelhorn at some point and I wasn’t listening. The beginning of the track starts out with nice diddly of a wispy guitar and very tight drums leading the charge with vocalists Chester Edington and Olivia Brown coming in for a harmony. For me, Fake Shape answers the question “well what if Radiohead was born in Canada and was about 20% more jazz influenced.” The piece crescendos to about the 2:20 mark and a trumpet solo takes over, eventually giving way to some bass limelight. If you’re not impressed with this track, you[...]

Courtney Farren – “I Must Like It”

October 19, 2023

Released October 6 in anticipation a full length effort next year, Courtney Farren’s newest single is “I Must Like It.” Originally from the Bay Area in San Francisco, she has found herself anywhere from Boston to Croatia (and currently back in California). With this wanderlust comes experiences, which fuels her creative juices as an artist. With some truly awe inspiring compositions, Farren’s vocals bring to mind artists such as Phoebe Bridgers, Lorde, and Florence & The Machine. Not merely a rehash of old ideas or borrowing from other artists, she blazes ahead creatively with a fresh look ahead for the indie pop aesthetic. Be sure to check out “I Must Like It” over on Spotify or Apple Music. If you’re feeling the vibes there, dig deeper on her previous effort from April of this year with Rabbit King. 

Frogs Show Mercy – “Chester’s Privilege”

October 19, 2023

A band we’ve covered previously (here and here), Frogs Show Mercy brings us their latest single “Chester’s Privilege.” Beginning with a sample of an interaction they had with Instagram personality Chester Stone, it immediately switches gears to some raucous geetar and some bellowing vocals that will have you feeling like it’s the early aughts all over again. You might feel a slight buzz from the breakdowns and changeups, but the penultimate twist comes around the 2:40 mark…. And I won’t ruin it for you. Suffice to say, you might think you’re listening to an entirely new song. Lots of great energy from this Miami group, please give it and some of their other tracks a listen especially if enjoy bands such as Dismemberment Plan, Tigers Jaw, or Title Fight. Hear “Chester’s Privilege” over on Spotify or Apple Music.

Easy Bear – “In My Head”

October 19, 2023

A mysterious three piece based out of Santa Barbara, Easy Bear describes their sound as “…like rock and/or roll” which is…100% accurate. Their latest single, “In My Head” is an electric track chock-filled with all of the guitars. Occasionally giving way to a brief respite with a tight bass riff, the calm doesn’t last for long as they launch into another chord-laden layer of awesome. Evoking a sort of post grunge/emo tinged power pop feel, you’ll definitely enjoy the hooks and energy the band brings a la Hollerado or Arkells. You can hear “In My Head” over on Soundcloud or Spotify. Easy Bear · In My Head

Virgo Rising – “Shoes”

October 19, 2023

Manitoba based four piece Virgo Rising brings us their latest single “Shoes” off of their October 13th EP Vampyre Year. Simply put, this is a sublime, guitar-forward bedroom indie rock song guided by vocalist Emiy Sinclair’s dulcet tones. I said to myself whilst listening, “Self, ya know each note and minute sounds present, so deliberately placed, and painstakingly put together.” Oddly enough as I started reading more about the band I learned that this… was not only true as my ears heard it, but there was a bit of a backstory too. As per the band, they implemented a veto system on crafting Vampyre Year that initially worked a little too well and went back to the drawing board. Coming back fresh after a year away from recording, the band reworked the EP from scratch and made it a cohesive group effort. As far as comparisons go, the sound and attention to[...]

Kitchenette – “If I Can Dance”

October 15, 2023

Kitchenette is a Netherlands-based five piece led by frontman Chris O. Kikic, who originally hails from Bosnia. Released October 6, “If I Can Dance” is a super chill guitar-forward track that makes way for Kikic’s haunting/wailing vocals. Their subtle yet danceable style brings in comparisons from The War on Drugs, to Kurt Vile, or Real Estate; enjoyers of these artists will certainly find a lot to enjoy from Kikic et al. We were particularly drawn to the bouncing bass line and swimmy, spiraly guitar leads that weave in and out of the song’s skeletal structure. Certainly leaning into the dreamier vibes in all of the best ways, “If I Can Dance” is about getting yourself back out there – here’s more from Kikic: “It’s about jumping into the waters again, dancing even if you can’t dance, trying out new stuff and going for it. Being in the world and with[...]

Daisy The Great x illuminati hotties – “Time Machine 2”

October 13, 2023

A collaboration between Daisy the Great and illuminati hotties, “Time Machine 2” is the latest track off of DtG’s EP Tough Kid. A sequel of sorts to their 2022 song “Time Machine,” Daisy the great had this to say: “Time Machine 2 is the evil twin sequel to our song Time Machine from our 2022 record ‘All You Need Is Time’. We’ve always had a dream to make a grittier, faster version of the song, so when we got the opportunity to collaborate with indie punk legend Sarah Tudzin of illuminati hotties, we knew it would be the perfect moment to realize that vision.” Comparing the two songs was fun, as I feel like doing an “evil twin sequel” can oftentimes feel like you’re just recycling old ideas without moving forward musically. “Time Machine 2” avoids these pratfalls and hits the mark on being a fresh re-imagining of the original (also good)[...]

llawgne – “Crysanthemum Rock”

October 13, 2023

“Chrysanthemum Rock” is the newest track from Swedish artist Mathias Engwall, better know by his stage name llawgne (pronounced love-gney, also Mathias’ last name reversed). We’ve covered him previously over here on the BLOG, and haven’t changed our minds in the ensuing three years. llawgne’s style is best enjoyed with a good set of headphones – all music, but particularly shoegazier tracks like this all but call for it. The swimmy guitar (with some backbone of jangle and wail) brings to mind Slowdive, Joy Division, and My Bloody Valentine – complete with a rhythmic chant-like vocal style that urges you to, quite literally, stop and smell the roses – er, crysanthemums. Described as a “… powerful celebration of personal decline and lowered ambition as a recipe for success” you’ll find yourself drawn into Engwall’s (self-produced) effort here and is a great jumping off point for his other tracks. Be sure[...]

Kandle – “Live A Lie”

October 13, 2023

Released October 12, “Live a Lie” is the newest single from Canadian singer and songwriter Kandle. The song comes in anticipation of her newest album due out in 2024; she brings haunting vocals with sweeping guitars and buzzy synths backing her up. You feel immediately drawn in as her voice swirls around your ears and gives a Radiohead or Smashing Pumpkins vibe with the amount of swirling sound drawn out of a relatively simple arrangement. Her lyrical composition also reminds me a bit of a more focused Björk; the chanting and the ways she uses her voice more like an instrument are quite remarkable. It’s easy to see the attraction as Kandle has collaborated musical goliaths such as Jack White and fellow Canadian Sam Roberts (a personal favorite of mine). It’s melancholy (Mellon Collie?) for sure, but “Live a Lie” is absolutely gripping and totally worth the listen. You can[...]

King Nun – “OCD”

October 13, 2023

King Nun, a five piece out of London, brings us a fresh slice with “OCD” off of their new album LAMB released a couple weeks ago through Marshall Records. Influenced by grunge darlings Sonic Youth and Pixies, I’m immediately drawn to the downbeat and discordant sounds from the bass and guitar in the gratuitous (but not overwrought) intro. Tackling a subject that’s near and dear to me, front man Theo had this to say on the track: “I think there was a good two years where I had an incredible bout of health anxiety that at every turn nearly put a stop to my life…I was really struggling with everything you could imagine and the simplest thing became massive and complicated.” You can feel the struggle and angst all throughout and it reminded of a darker take of “The Bitch of Living” from the Spring Awakening Musical Soundtrack (I know, weird deep cut but[...]

General Crush – “King Of The Road”

October 12, 2023

“King of the Road” is the newest single from Boston artist Ray Ward, better known by his stage name of General Crush (honestly, great name and kind of angry I didn’t think of it first). He brings a lot to the table, with this little number being a very fun pop-forward road trip sounding track. He switches up a bit between tracks and keeps his sound fresh and shifting, but really gave me a similar feel to some of Mt. Joy or Sufjan Stevens’ more upbeat songs, and even a little bit of that Neil Young swagger from the days of yore (ask your parents). With lots of light guitar and some horns and piano thrown in for good measure, you’ll find yourself bopping along to the beat within the first 30 seconds. This is definitely going on my on my leaf peeping list for the fall and if you[...]

Tired Cossack – “Tin”

October 12, 2023

While the Cossacks (as per Wikipedia from Turkic kazak, “adventurer” or “free man”) of old may have been known for their horsemanship and fierce independence, Tired Cossack, is a solo act based out of good ole Winnipeg, Canada. He brings us a cut off his newest album I Know, I Guess., “Tin,” and it’s a solid 3:30 of rhythmic post-punk with Cure/The Fall-esque vibes. It’s somehow so wonderfully noisy yet refined just before the point of excess to keep the song moving – not bogging down at any point. Call it good mixing, but as a famous sound guy once said (probably), “you can’t polish a turd.” This one is indeed a diamond. Is he tired? Maybe, I don’t know the guy. If his music is any indication of his well-being I think there’s a lot to listen to here and I hope he’s okay and keeps rocking out between naps.[...]