Latest Posts

The Western Civilization – “The Snake and The Saint”

June 22, 2023

Rachel Hansbro and Reggie O’Farrell AKA The Western Civilization hail from Austin, TX and have a potent alternative/indie single with the newly released “The Snake and The Saint.” A heavy pop throb props up the airy warble of self-described emotional retching that Rachel writes their songs to be, and they act as both expulsion and reflection of her life’s revelatory moments. The moment being explored here is one with her soon to pass family member about whether life is a battle between good and evil people or a war between good and bad decisions as all humanity has the dichotomy living within. Reggie brings a harmony and lush musicality to the song writing process, constructing the shape of the tracks, giving them a defined liveliness that serves to exhibit the songs message even further. Listen as “The Snake and The Saint” grows in a cavernous fashion while simultaneously fills the[...]

Amelie Lucille – “Because of You”

June 16, 2023

Hot off the presses from her new self-titled EP, Amelie Lucille‘s lead single “Because of You” is a dazzling folk-tinged alt pop gem. With inspirations ranging anywhere from The Cure to Fleetwood Mac and Björk, Amelie certainly has some eclectic tastes that display beautifully in her music. Not to bury the lede, but at a mere 14 years of age, she cannot legally purchase an alcoholic beverage at any venue I’m familiar with (and I’ve been to a lot!) Speaking on the inspiration behind her debut EP: ““I want to live in any time besides now. I am almost 15 and I envy anyone that was able to experience the world when it wasn’t so impersonal. The movies, the style, the people, but most of all, the music. I dream of seeing my favorite bands live…” You absolutelymust lend your ears to Amelie’s music. Having had to endure such musical majesties[...]

Great Park Avenue – “New Fandango”

June 16, 2023

Stockholm rebels Great Park Avenue crank up their indie rocking energy here on latest single, “New Fandango.” This Swedish crew doesn’t typically ramp up their vibes this high, but they really pull out all the stops for “Fandango” – expect hammered guitar chords, twisty-turny guitar leads, and vocals that sound (as they put it) like “Tom Jones with a cold.” The energetic genre they’re exploring here will surely appeal to fans of The Libertines, Babyshambles, and Dirty Pretty Things. You can find “New Fandango” on Spotify and YouTube (below).

Ryan Ritual – “Where Did Love Go”

June 15, 2023

It hasn’t been too long since we’ve checked in with Ryan Ritual (check out our previous feature of “Slip Away“), but he’s managed to grab our ears yet again with latest single, “Where Did Love Go.” With readily available hooks, sparkly synth leads, and a casual nod to the songwriting greats of the ’80s, “Love” finds Ryan dealing with the existential dread of growing older and evolving as a musician… He explains more below: “When I started writing my solo album, I wanted there to be separation between my identity and my previous band’s identity. “Where Did Love Go” became my North Star of sorts, guiding me both sonically and thematically… ‘Where Did Love Go,’ in particular, deals with my loss of passion and growing apathy to the world I used to love.” Check out “Love” on Spotify or Soundcloud.

Becoming Bristol – “Staring Into The Sun”

June 15, 2023

If you’ve been looking to get your anthemic fix, “Staring Into The Sun” by Becoming Bristol (BB) might be your next obsession. With enough riffs to keep any guitar nerd occupied without ever losing sight of their big, modern rock radio energy, BB seems to have found the best of both worlds, and that energy is straight-up undeniable. The Seattle, WA quartet will appeal to fans of Switchfoot, .moneen., or COIN, who will all surely find lots to love here. Looking a bit below the surface, “Sun” actually has an incredibly deep and profound meaning – check out what they have to say below: “During my father’s battle with cancer, I found solace in the pages of Victor Frankl’s profound work, “Man’s Search for Meaning.” Frankl, a psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor, delved into the psychological aspects of surviving the atrocities of the concentration camps. His words resonated deeply with me[...]

The Moving Stills – “Westside”

June 15, 2023

We’re just drawn to the jaunty indie rock coming from Aussie quartet The Moving Stills (don’t believe me? Check out our previous features here and here). They’re back to tickle your garage rockin’ ’00s heartstrings with another lovely offering, the genuinely upbeat vibes of “Westside.” Uber-positive vibes are never our main MO, but the super uplifting feels found here on “Westside” have us feeling like we might turn over a new leaf… Maybe. Here’s what they had to say about their new jam: “Westside is about celebrating the positive aspects of life, so we wanted it to be a feel good upbeat track. It’s also about being able to slow down without feeling guilty about taking a break. It came after a holiday in WA and also reflects on all the time we have spent on the East Coast, playing shows and hanging out with the people that matter. It’s[...]

Sea Glass X Sky Adler – “Weekend”

June 15, 2023

Last time we checked in with Sea Glass, we were waxing poetic about singles “Pinecone Alley” and “I Have Jokes (If You Wanna Hear One).” There’s a reason we keep coming back to Sea Glass (and frequent collaborator Sky Adler), and one listen through their most recent tune will explain why… “Weekend” is a ’90s-reminiscent slice of slacker-pop that brings to mind early Weezer, Pavement, and even a hint of Viagara Boys – expect plunky guitar riffs, spicy melodies, and a uniquely beeping metronome sound keeping constant time. Adler remarked about his time in the studio with Sea Glass: “We discussed how much we missed high school and also how scared we were for kids still going through it. ‘Weekend’ was born pretty quickly in that reminiscent yet somewhat dark state.” Check out “Weekend” on Apple Music, Spotify, and Bandcamp. Weekend by Sea Glass, Sky Adler

Famous Friend – “Prism (Better Than This)”

June 14, 2023

Famous Friend (aka Zachariah Carlson) is an LA-based writer/producer/artist specializing in surfy bedroom-pop songwriting. We’re recommending “Prism (Better Than This)” for its upbeat vibes – expect twinkly guitar textures that are washed-out with love; punchy Casio-beat drums; and Carlson’s omni-pleasant vocal delivery. Fans of Day Wave, CASTLEBEAT, and Still Woozy will find lots to dig into here. “Prism” is the first single off of Famous Friend’s debut LP, Garbage King… Be sure to check it out on Spotify.

Stereosity – “Manny, Manny!”

June 14, 2023

Stereosity is a four piece from Orange County, California consisting of four friends (two of which are brothers) who love “warm tones and silly words.” Self-described as “calculus rock” (surely a play on words of the popular math rock genre), Stereosity memorializes a beloved (and weird) family dog in “Manny, Manny!” You’ll hear lots of genre hallmarks here – wailing and passionate vocals; start-stop guitar work; and more emotion than you could shake a stick at (there’s a pun on playing fetch here somewhere, but we’ll just leave it at that for now). Fans of Tiny Moving Parts, Macseal, and Delta Sleep will love this one. You can find “Manny, Manny!” on Spotify and Soundcloud or via their Linktree. Stereosity · Manny, Manny!

Anya Baghina – “It’s Clear To Me”

June 14, 2023

Anya Baghina (whom you may recognize as a member of Soviet Girls) is here with an alt-folk-dream-pop song she’s calling “It’s Clear to Me.” In the best way, “Clear” is straightforward and sentimental – lightly chorus-laden guitars and gentle fuzz elements power this jangly gem forward while Baghina’s ultra-sincere delivery adds a healthy midwestern emo flavor. This one has appeal across multiple genres – if you’re a fan of Beach Bunny, Alvvays, or Petal, Anya’s work is definitely up your alley. Anya’s album is due out June 23rd – until then, make sure you check out “Clear” on Spotify and Apple Music, too.

Hundred Plus Club – Doom and Bloom

June 12, 2023

Buffalo-based band Hundred Plus Club (HPC) stays on par with their poppy, story-driven music in their latest three-song EP, Doom and Bloom. The band teamed up with Admirable Traits Records yet again to record this project which joins the ranks alongside a number of excellent singles, EPs like 2016’s For You and 2017’s Everybody’s Friend, and a split with their fellow Buffalonians in Cooler.  The opening track and lead single “Garden Cruise” dives into the problems of love (in whatever form it may take) – within the first few lines lead singer Zain Shirazi exclaims, “Love makes, Love makes us cry.” He sings with such a cold and calculated pain that if you close your eyes and imagine yourself alone at night, you’d feel like you can run through a brick wall head on. Essentially, that is the picture that the band tends to draw for their fans; being able[...]

Off Contact – “Dressed to Kill”

June 9, 2023

Four piece post-punk outfit Off Contact are an eclectic group of local scene stalwarts from Sioux Falls, SD. Following their killer second full length, they’ve just released their third single, the inventive, evocative, and hawkish “Dressed to Kill.” Each member has their roots deep in the same local scene, some even owning the venues that are its life blood. This passionate fandom and deep-rooted love culminates, creating striking music that reflects four individuals and a scene that has a string pulling at each of their hearts. Buzz saw lead guitar wails while a fat, melodic bass line leads it forward with unending momentum. Singer Lindy Wise lays into the track with earnest and endlessly cool howls finding his space on the track and clearing the way for stark and delicious unified gut punches from the instrumentals. Fans of Interpol, Joy Division, Jesus and Mary Chain, Ought, and Ty Seagull will[...]

Graham Grease – “On Replay”

June 5, 2023

Washington, DC based band Graham Grease brings us a post-punk tinged single with “On Replay.” This is a bit of a change-up from when we last covered them back in ’21, but still in fine form (as Nick aptly pointed out: “…the ear-catching discordance of Pile, the eternal-slacker vibes of Pavement, and grittiness of early Nirvana…”). Whereas 2021’s “Teething” was more of a nod to the 90’s grunge bands of yesteryear, “On Replay” goes with crooning vocals a la Talking Heads and the layered guitars more in line with “Machina” era Smashing Pumpkins with a bit of the freak-out vibes of Q and not U. Bonus clout: studio drums were laid down by Spike Smith who has previously played with Morrissey and the mixing was done Jonathan Schenke who has worked with Parquet Courts, Liars, and Snail Mail. You’ll be more than impressed with the depth of sound throughout this track.[...]

Rosie Quartz – Philophile

June 5, 2023

Buffalo-based band Rosie Quartz specializes in guitar-driven songs soaked with luscious reverb. Their surfy vibes and easy-going disposition has resulted in a new, three-song project they’ve titled Philophile (i.e. a lover of loving). Throughout your first listen, you’ll feel like you’re on a bicycle riding a hundred miles an hour on a sunny breezy day, your hair flying wildly through the wind. The drums throughout each song brought by Alex Bogart make your head bop unconsciously along with the smoothness of the guitar brought by Adam Cwynar and the deep bass grooves of bassist Ron Walczyk. When Sean Pratt’s voice first hits in the song “Constellation Prize,” you get a sense of fresh air you didn’t know you needed. Overall, their music has a vibe that is very calming and warm that makes you want to lay back and stare at the stars late at night. The project was produced[...]

Mirrorball – “Red Hot Dust”

June 4, 2023

LA-based duo Mirrorball are here to lull you into a haze with their latest single, “Red Hot Dust.” Singer/songwriter Alexandra Johnstone and multi-instrumentalist and composer Scott Watson have crafted something stunning here, driven by somber piano plunking and Johnstone’s ghostly vocal presence. Big hooks and morose moodiness will remind you of Lana Del Rey or Beach House with a hint of the rawness of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs (indie rock producer Chris Coady, who has also worked with the YYYs and Beach House also produced this track). The hard hitting melodies of lines like “red wine it’s a thriller/ it’s a god damn killer” cut right through you – as they explain it: “[‘Red Hot Dust’ is] a dreamy drive up the foggy, west tree-covered coast before the sun comes up arriving to the pink open desert.” Be sure to add “Red Hot Dust” to your favorite Spotify playlist.