Latest Posts

Quit Yourself – “Strung Out & Grinding Your Teeth”

April 10, 2023

Quit Yourself brings a fun, energetic emo ballad in the form of “Strung Out & Grinding Your Teeth,” the first single from their upcoming EP, IT GETS WORSE BEFORE IT GETS WORSE. Most of the words I just used don’t entirely do justice to this impressive effort, so I’ll switch gears a bit with a story: It’s sometime in the early aughts and a dear friend named Kelly gave me a copy of Taking Back Sunday’s Tell All Your Friends that quite literally changed my life (for the better). Comparisons can sometimes be forced or, “eh, I kinda see that,” but in this case, I believe it to be a fair one. Quit Yourself isn’t a TBS clone by any means, but the frantic intro with soulful lyrics; melodic call-and-response vocals; and tapped guitar leads improve that nicely-paved road with enough fervor and passion to stand out on their own.[...]

Quiet Sonia – “Sparks”

April 9, 2023

As per their Instagram: “Quiet Sonia is a Copenhagen-based seven-piece experimental chamber-rock group”. In my wildest dreams I don’t think I could come up with such a combination of words to describe a musical act like them, yet here we are! “Sparks” is the first single off of their upcoming debut album and was, in true chamber-rock group fashion, recorded live in (and I am not making this up) a candle-lit studio over a weekend at the Royal Danish Academy of Music. I have friends in bands who would give their teeth to record something this beautiful in live takes, not to mention over a weekend! Anyone who has an ear for high production folk-tinged post punk fused with an orchestral arrangement will find this tantalizing. Vitamin String Quartet mashed together with Arcade Fire is the most accurate description I can think of, but still doesn’t do justice to what[...]

Animal Scream – “Strangled Up In Two”

April 9, 2023

Hailing from Pittsburgh, Animal Scream is made up of duo Chad Monticue and Josh Sickels.”Strangled Up in Two” is a banger of a track from that literally starts off with a BANG and doesn’t let off the gas, except to occasionally allow you to catch your breath. This comes from their most recent album Heartbroke Motel (April 7th) from label American Hermitage, also out of Pittsburgh, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. The raucous cacophony in “Strangled” brings to mind Death From Above 1979, Parquet Courts, and a hint of Thom Yorke – with a beat that is simply infectious, just tell me with a straight face you couldn’t dance to this song all night long. The duo’s (successful) experiments with sound throughout Heartboke Motel similary don’t disappoint and listeners of anywhere from Grimes to Animal Collective would find enjoyment in the eclecticism. Be sure to check out “Strangled Up in Two”[...]

Cupid Girl – “I Drop Everything”

April 9, 2023

Cupid Girl is the project of Norway native Julie Engelsviken, and in three minutes with “I Drop Everything,” shows us her solid indie-pop chops. Songs like this always bring me a certain degree of joy because you can hear everything from relatable lyrics, to the plucky guitar, and lush synth leads, just-so-tightly produced to perfection. With her swaying dream-pop vocals, Engelsviken evokes some similarities to fellow Norwegian artist Girl in Red (or even HAIM) but with with 23% more 80’s influence thrown in. “I Drop Everything” also brings to mind “I Can’t Stop;” a fellow 80s-tinged track we recently reviewed by Dragon Inn 3. With a decent following over on Spotify and a strong collection of songs released within the past two years, be sure to hop on over to Spotify or Apple Music to hear this and more from Cupid Girl. Come for the incredible production value, stay for[...]

Nathan Connolly – “Fires [feat. Simon Neil]”

April 4, 2023

“Fires” is the debut single off of Nathan Connolly‘s upcoming album The Strange Order of Things. You may already be familiar with Nathan from his turn as Grammy-nominated Snow Patrol’s guitarist, as well as his previous project Little Matador, but Connolly finally struck out on his own for this groovy indie rock jam. “Fires” features a guest appearance from Simon Neil of Biffy Clyro (as well as shared songwriting duties) and the duo brings the gravitas you would expect: powerfully layered guitars; big melodies; and uplifting, heartfelt lyrics. If “Fires,” along with his previous work, is any indication, not only will this be a fantastic album but certainly one worthy of an addition to your summer playlist. Keep an eye out for Strange Order of Things out on 4/21 through Third Bar Records. In the meantime you can hear “Fires” on Spotify and stay tuned for more updates on Nathan Connolly’s[...]

Savagery – “Void”

April 4, 2023

I’m going to be completely honest with you, dear reader, I know next to nothing about the (presumably) one-person act known as Savagery. Honestly though, it’s kind of refreshing to have an artist present their music and just leave it at that. Here’s what I do know: Savagery seems to be composed of one person who has a strong understanding of composition. Their dulcet tones intersperse throughout a carefully curated midi-flavored track, layered with subdued guitar/drums/bass that create a sort of low-key, electronica/shoegaze-y mix. As described upon receipt of this track, this is “pop music, gone awry” (an apt description of shoegaze, to be sure). “Void”, along with the rest of Savagery’s tracks would be a good fit for someone who enjoys the amalgamation of sounds from bands like Beach House, Porches, or even Cocteau Twins. Be sure to delve into the mystery of of Savagery on their Soundcloud, Spotify,[...]

American Trappist – “Seg Fault”

April 4, 2023

01000001 01101101 01100101 01110010 01101001 01100011 01100001 01101110 00100000 01010100 01110010 01100001 01110000 01110000 01101001 01110011 01110100 00100000 00101101 00100000 00100010 01010011 01100101 01100111 00100000 01000110 01100001 01110101 01101100 01110100 00100010 Philadelphia-based American Trappist bring us a fun alt-90’s inspired single “Seg Fault;” so named for when a computer program loses track of memory and tries to write or read from an inaccessible part of memory or segmentation fault. [The computer based title is also the reason I so cleverly started this blog in binary (computer code 1’s and 0’s)]. The title fits well with the theme of changing over time, yet trying to maintain your sense of self, without losing who you originally are. The discordant intro sets the stage while meandering yet thoughtful guitar provides the perfect backdrop to Joe Michelini’s focused wailing that evokes Dinosaur Jr. or Pixies, with perhaps a dash of Deerhunter. Be sure to[...]

Mother Sun – “Yellowbee”

March 28, 2023

Take a deep breath and hold it in, because this hits nicely. “Yellowbee” from Mother Sun is a chilled mellow high of a song that will absolutely pick you up and float you away to wherever you find yourself the happiest. Ostensibly, lead vocalist Doherty’s musings on a colony of bees, the delightful layering of repetitive (yet delightful) synth, guitars and *checks ears* an improvisational saxophone throughout?! I listened to this song three or four times and I heard something a little different each time; this is a track that rewards repeat listenings. I particularly enjoyed the simple yet effective chord progression that was employed throughout that made me feel like I was part of the hive. Fans of Porches or Panda Bear (or Animal Collective, for that matter) would feel at home with “Yellowbee,” as well as many of the tracks Mother Sun have laid down already. Be sure[...]

O Slow – “These Dreams”

March 27, 2023

Hailing from California and currently residing in Brooklyn, O Slow is multi-instrumentalist Jacqui Miranda’s solo effort that shines brightest when it’s at its darkest. “These Dreams” is a delightful masterclass in mixing wispy, haunting lyrics with a collage of sounds anchored by a steady piano throughout. Jacqui brings us into the tangled web of a transcontinental move and the accompanying mixed feelings associated with being the country mouse who moves to the big city. The melding of sounds and her voice evoke a comparison to bands like Beach House or even an alternate-reality Alvvays that leaned into darker tones. You should absolutely listen to “These Dreams” with a nice set of headphones (like I did) for the full effect. It was a good type of disconcerting that made me feel the unease Jacqui delivers throughout the track. You can hear this and more over on Soundcloud or Spotify. Also be[...]

Fieldrush – “Motorcycle”

March 20, 2023

Fieldrush is a San Diego-based trifecta who show that they understand how to craft a solid emo/alt-rock track in this year of our Lord 2023 with their latest track “Motorcycle.” This single brings something that sounds both familiar yet fresh; something about this three piece just feels right. Twinkly, tappy guitars, shuffling drums, and nimble basslines lay perfectly beneath their band-in-a-room vocals. The lyrics, specifically “Good friends move far away//Do you feel like they did now?” earnestly-delivered definitely awaken some feelings from earlier in life when I was the friend moving away (don’t worry, it happens when you get out of college too). Lead man Trevor Johnson brings some melodic guitar interwoven throughout that is reminiscent of bands such as Tiny Moving Parts, Modern Baseball, and Cloud Nothings, but forges ahead with his own identity without being beholden to forebears. Give “Motorcycle” among other songs a listen on Bandcamp or[...]

The Jürgen Clubs – “Soft”

March 20, 2023

Bringing a level of wit and self-deprecating pizazz that I can’t help but find infectious, Danish quartet The Jürgen Clubs‘ third single is… about the soft member of lead singer Magnus Grilstad. As he puts it: “The song is based on an evening when I wasn’t too proud of myself, and in the attempt to get a second chance, I invited her out to a restaurant while she’s on her way out the door. Of course she turned down that invitation a few days later. (Prior to the date, Magnus had skipped all of the day’s meals to avoid getting bloated, resulting in the alcohol suddenly hitting harder than expected).” With this in mind, it’s easy to appreciate not only the underlying theme but also the non-stop party vibe the band brings musically. With the bass and keyboard trading the spotlight multiple times, it brings a fun back-and-forth that wouldn’t[...]

Little Champion – “oops i got sad”

March 20, 2023

The on-stage moniker of Asheville native Dustin Goldklang; Little Champion‘s sound is that of a well-tuned indie rock bicycle. “Indie rock” is catch all term that gets thrown around, but Little Champion definitely fits the bill: self recorded, produced, and mixed (though this certainly doesn’t discredit anyone who can’t do all three). “oops i got sad” leads with warm guitars that crescendo along with Goldklang’s initial almost-whisper in the first third before backing off at the first bridge and guiding us along with the one-sided argument he’s having about (or with?) the malaise he’s feeling. Listeners of emo and/or folk-flavored indie would find a lot to enjoy, specifically Iron and Wine, heart-on-your-sleeve acts like Modern Baseball, or pop rocker Andrew McMahon’s previous project, Jack’s Mannequin. “oops…” is just one of nine tracks from Little Champion’s March 7th release Curiosity so I will say this: give it a listen. You can hear[...]

Krooked Kings – “Coming Of Age”

March 18, 2023

A dandy of a single from Utah-based Krooked Kings, “Coming of Age” has lots of great indie hooks that scratch the discerning music listener’s itches. I’m happy to see more bands with appropriate use of synth which I’ve ranted about before (Krooked Kings use it effectively throughout). The warm guitars and heartfelt lyrics would fit in well to the soundtrack of a Zac Braff-esque indie movie and would play over a montage of the tsundere protagonist growing up… But also, the mellow strumming and gentle hooks here are evergreen through and through. Fans of Los Campesinos!, Glass Animals, or Hazel English would find a lot to enjoy not only with this track but with most of Krooked Kings’ catalogue. You can hear more of them over on Spotify. Also be sure to let us know what you think on this and any other music we post in the comments on[...]

Koala Harbor – “Can’t Fall Asleep”

March 18, 2023

The first thirty seconds of Koala Harbor‘s debut single off upcoming album Those Who Are Lost Must Wander IMMEDIATELY evokes the more creative MIDI tones of my favorite video game system, THE Sega Genesis (specifically the more dreamlike tracks of Sonic 2 and 3). Make no mistake though, Mr. Harbor (Mr. Koala?) has crafted a gorgeous track that cannot be ignored. They could easily be mentioned in the same breadth as such greats as Toro y Moi and Dayglow. Smooth lyrics and a hearty synthetic layering of their digital tracks leave the listener riding the waves as relaxed as a koala on a eucalyptus farm. Please be sure to check out this sterling example of electronica indie-pop as well as Koala Harbor’s 2023 album, Lost Demos, which includes several delectable remixes of “Can’t Fall Asleep”. These and more can be found on Spotify as well as Apple Music. Please let us[...]

S.I.L. – “Lonely Nights”

March 18, 2023

Orlando based duo S.I.L.‘s newest track, “Lonely Nights,” immediately evokes the pumped up beats of electronica darlings Daft Punk at their most mellow and Billie Eillish at her tamest. Make no mistake though, Silvana and Justin work together inextricably to form a nouveau-jazz-adjacent smart sounding vibe all their own. Silvanna’s soulful voice fills your inner being while the tightly wound bass and drums fill your body with longing. I feel anyone who is familiar with band such as Rubblebucket and the aforementioned Billie Eillish/Daft Punk comparisons would feel most at home with S.I.L. Be sure to check out their various singles and 2020 full length Sunshowers on Soundcloud or Spotify. S.I.L. · Lonely Nights