Latest Posts

DINNERSWORTH – “Kill Me”

October 8, 2023

DINNERSWORTH, the project of Blake from Minneapolis, Minnesota recently released his EP Kill Me (October 1) and the lead track “Kill Me” is the newest single. Taking some nods from indie and pop greats such as Blink-182 and Taking Back Sunday, he flushes out his voice with great power chords and a non-stop explosion of three piece sound. Not merely a rehash of old ideas but a fresh look at what makes pop punk pop punk, “Kill Me” is a much needed update with a lot of smooth producing and a pleasant homebrew feel (he proudly works on his songs in his basement). DINNERSWORTH primarily exists on Spotify and Instagram so we’re not able to embed for you this time – but be sure to give “Kill Me” a listen over on Spotify and be sure to check out the rest of the EP if you enjoy what you hear.

Jupiter Flynn – “Monsters and Men”

October 6, 2023

Berlin-based artist Jupiter Flynn brings us her newest single “Monsters and Men,” and it’s quite the banger. The narrative of the track is a reflection of women the world over – the very real and present fear of men in all walks of life (from relationships to walking alone at night). With an impressive accompaniment of guitar and piano, her voice manages to shine through whilst simultaneously carrying the appropriate amount of foreboding for the subject material; “I’m not scared of the dark/I’m scared of monsters and men.” Fans of Mitski, Olivia Rodrigo, or Girl in Red would find a lot to enjoy here. Not merely a grouping of female artists, but the fabric and feel of their songs shares a lot of common ground. You can hear, quite frankly, that Jupiter has been through some shit and she’s here to share her experiences in her wonderfully dark yet hopeful[...]

Michael Simon Armstrong – “Semantics”

October 4, 2023

Not too much was given to us about Los Angles based artist Michael Simon Armstrong, but based on a couple listens of his latest track “Semantics,” he’s obviously quite talented and worthy of a listen. The title track of his September EP, it’s filled with HUGE sounds on par with artists like indie darlings Slow Pulp, Sufjan Stevens or boygenius. With strong guitar licks and Armstrong’s forlorn yet steadfast vocals, it eventually gives way to strings and an impressive horn accompaniment. With a strong following of 23k and decent plays since the September 27 release, MSA is absolutely an artist you should check out if you haven’t already. I hate to say “punching above his weight,” but having never heard of him until now and being a bit overwhelmed with the sound (in a good way!) I feel as though this is accurate. Check out “Semantics” and the rest of[...]

French Cassettes – “Medium Horny”

October 4, 2023

“Medium Horny” is the newest single from Bay Area quartet French Cassettes; it’s quite the banger. With a only a couple singles since 2020’s LP Rolodex, this is a fine return to form for FC with a full gamut of wistful lyrics and (as I like to call it) “focused yet lazy guitar licks.” Evoking bands like Hot Hot Heat at their more cerebral or perhaps Vampire Weekend, FC lures you in with dulcet tones and bedroom talk – “I’m more than lazy but less than exciting but medium horny.” Speaking to their influences for the track, front man Lorenzo Scott Huerta had this to say: “The first verse is Johnny Marr, middle section is Jeff Lynne and Bill Evans, the outro is Elliott Smith. I’ve never heard a full Evans song in my life… I don’t think, but I’ve heard he does ‘chord solos’ and I loved that idea[...]

James Wyatt Crosby – “Ashamed”

October 4, 2023

Toronto based musician James Wyatt Crosby sings about how shame should all feel the same in his new single, “Ashamed.” Released as a single at the end of September, it’s a fine guitar-forward track focusing on the vocals. With the unfortunate times we live in, shame and regret are rather in vogue. Crosby takes these fun feelings and crafts emotional yet hopeful call to action – are you passive in a relationship or have you done something unseemly and hurt someone you love? As JWC remarks on the song: “I guess you could say it’s a song about laziness and inaction…you can be ashamed about practically anything!” The vocals seem to be JWC as far as I can tell, but also sounds like an “Alvin and the Chipmunks” effect with the speed-up/slow down of his voice as compared to his other tracks (or it’s someone else entirely; either way the[...]

Kai Undrell – “Can It Get Any Better…?”

September 30, 2023

England based musician (and filmmaker, evidently) Kai Undrell of Sheffield dropped his lead single “Can It Get Any Better…?” September 22 in anticipation of his debut EP Full Fat Fear due out October 13. Citing influences from Arcade Fire and Scissor Sisters, “Any Better…?” sounds like what would happen if Elton John started making music in the early aughts but was a bit more reserved. This is definitely a piano forward song with some tight bass licks in the background with Undrell showcasing his delightful vocals (seriously, that man has some PIPES). It’s honestly quite refreshing to hear a piano/synth piano clone starring as the main instrument (with a beat to boot) in contemporary music. While I’m not sure if the question the song poses is ever answered (or if it’s even supposed to be), Kai Undrell absolutely is worth a listen and someone to look out for. Be sure to check[...]

Fur Trade – “Monaco”

September 30, 2023

A surprising and altogether exciting track, “Monaco” is a blast from a past for some readers around my age. Fur Trade is a project of Hot Hot Heat front man Steve Bays and Parker Bossley of Gay Nineties and formerly of Hot Hot Heat. “Monaco” is their newest single off of their recently released album Dark Celebration (September 22) and it’s an absolute banger. This is their first major album release together since 2013’s Don’t Get Heavy,  and, fittingly, there’s a (possible) self dig in the lyrics: “It’s 10 o’clock and writer’s block is thriving, driving me to drink…” The intro is mostly the aforementioned vocals and some smooooth bass that eventually brings in neurotic blasts of synth and super tight drums, evolving into a full blown ruckus that reminds me of somewhere between vintage HHH meshed with a disco electronica feel. Be sure to check out “Monaco” over on Spotify[...]

The Seshen – “Waiting For Dawn”

September 30, 2023

Bay Area based six piece The Seshen bring us their newest single, “Waiting For Dawn,” an absolutely scrumptious amalgamation of sounds impeccably crafted and mixed together. Singer Lalin St. Juste is on an altogether different level than most vocalists as she weaves her incredible voice throughout the track, guiding us and pulling us like a siren’s call. The song itself is a deep dive into the feelings after a significant life transition, partially born from the divorce between St. Juste and fellow bandmember Aki Ehara. Fans of Grimes if she kept her electronica sensibilities and joined an indie band would find a lot to enjoy here but that’s just the tip of the iceberg and doesn’t quite do The Seshen justice. Be sure to give “Waiting For Dawn” a listen over on Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube. If you you’re feeling the vibe, be sure to check out their album Nowhere[...]

Dawn Park – “New Material”

September 30, 2023

NYC based duo Dawn Park bring us their latest single “New Material,” the most recent follow up to their June EP Petulma. We originally covered a single from that very same EP here and had good things to say about them then, and that hasn’t changed in the ensuing months. Improving on their previous release with deeper experimentation with mixing and some additional complexity, “New Material” was written about: “…the feeling that we need to make some sort of dramatic, drastic change to fix whatever is going on in our lives.” I particularly enjoyed the fuzzy bass tone throughout the track, it’s difficult to describe but it just scratches an itch that’s probably related to hertz (or maybe some undiscovered childhood trauma). A lot of bands can get it wrong or overdo it; definitely not the case here. Be sure to give “New Material” a listen on Spotify, as well as[...]

Casual Confrontation – Marriage Culture

September 22, 2023

Casual Confrontation is the stage name of Frankie Diez, a Romanian born artist who grew up in Puerto Rico and Miami before landing in Nashville. He’s here with his latest album, Marriage Culture, a sprawling and expansive 17-song offering that promises a look at the institution of marriage from all sides. A producer and classically trained pianist, Frankie has released and produced three albums previously under his own moniker and also had cowriting credits with other artists. He touts his songwriting and producing prowess and that he also “…aim[s] to help artists say exactly what they want and need to say in the form of a song, giving them a space to let their words, feelings, and emotions flourish without boundary or judgement.” This sentiment translates well in Marriage Culture – Diez explains below: “‘Marriage Culture’ explores the concepts of marriage as an institution, one’s desire for connection with others[...]

Idledaze – Sandbox

September 20, 2023

Sandbox is a seven song EP from Whitewater, Wisconsin-based one man band Idledaze, released in anticipation of a full length album due out spring of 2024. Idledaze performs as a solo act but also does cover projects as a the Idledaze Trio with a setlist that spans everything from Alice in Chains to Zeppelin. Sandbox as a whole trends toward a bluesy flavor with a country-tinged edge, especially with the fun 90’s feeling video made for the track “Hot Feet” that you can see over on YouTube. Interspersed throughout the rollicking bass lines and meandering guitar is Idledaze himself amongst a montage of oil paintings and a Chicago go-go dancer (hence the name, not a reference to Quentin Tarantino’s favorite body part). Evidently a big oil painting guy, the album art for Sandbox is based on artwork done by his sister. The first track “In The Mood” feels like an[...]

Pale Puma – “Cast a Shadow”

September 14, 2023

Bringing you a rare double shot, we have ANOTHER Pale Puma track hot off the presses; their other song was “Down by the River,” (which I wrote about here). This one is “Cast a Shadow” also off of their September 8th album Haunted By Dreams That Were Never My Own and while in the same vein as “Down by the River” it’s definitely the shinier of the two. The chord progression and steady drum beat gave me the same feeling of playing an epic video game or journeying into a decisive battle with the BBEG in Dungeons and Dragons with my friends (editor’s note: BBEG means “Big Bad Evil Guy” in D&D parlance, and Chris is a friggin’ nerd). A galloping drum beat and haunting guitar work certainly add to that mysterious and adventurous feeling. If you’ve already listened to “Down by the River” and enjoyed it, this one is a[...]

Bazemore – “in your arbor”

September 13, 2023

According to an unverified post on the genius.com page listed on his Instagram; Bazemore is based out of Baltimore and is a triple threat of producer/musician/sound engineer. His latest single is “in your arbor,” and it’s a simmering, noisy romp with ALL of the guitar layers and ALL of the feedback. It’s a mashed-together conglomerate of shoegaze and EDM that shows off Bazemore’s composition chops – the way he builds the guitars/effects/drum machine to a rousing crescendo shows a true mastery of his craft. Fans of M83, My Bloody Valentine, or my personal favorite Beach House would find a lot to enjoy here. While shoegaze typically eschews a gentle electronic beat for sheer noise, you can’t help but ignore the driving rhythms and washy presences here. You can hear “in your arbor” on Spotify, Apple Music, or if you’re thrifty like me, here’s the YouTube link.

tiger del flor x MKSTN – “like we’re an indie movie (url remix)”

September 13, 2023

“like we’re an indie movie” is a track by Hollywood based tiger del flor and Toronto based MKSTN – quite the long distance affair! As if the track wasn’t good enough, it’s been given the remix treatment by url – an impressive artist in his own right with a deep catalogue of collaborations and originals. The remix does a good job of keeping the meat and potatoes of the original track more or less intact and adds a bit more extra flavor and pizzazz a la squelching bass synths, airy synth touches, and bedroom-pop drumming. TDF’s lyrics are hauntingly longing – if Timothée Chalemet, Greta Gerwig, and Sofia Coppola were combined into a romantic indie movie this would definitely be on the soundtrack. url turns up the bass and ensuing funk up to 11, something fans of EDM music in general or Daft Punk or Chemical Brothers would appreciate. You[...]

Pale Puma – “Down By The River”

September 11, 2023

Amsterdam-based four piece dreampop band Pale Puma brings us their newest single “Down By The River” off of their recently released album Haunted By Dreams That Were Never My Own (September 8, Excelsior Recordings). Shimmering guitars backdropped by slick bass create a shoegazy vibe with singer Django Duijns’ echoing voice wallowing in (calm) despair. Feeling somewhere between an upbeat Interpol or less upbeat Alvvays, Pale Puma’s sound is unique enough that they stand on their own quite well. The album itself is well worth the listen if you enjoy “Down By The River,” which you can find over on Spotify. My next favorite was probably “Sea of Discontent,” especially for letting bassist Remy de Kok shine a bit more. Be sure to let us know what you think over on our social medias – Facebook or X (aka Twitter, seriously that was the silliest rebranding of all time).