Latest Posts

Peach Cooler – “You Talk Too Much”

August 4, 2023

Retro, sun-soaked, sassy, and fun are four perfect ways to encapsulate the newest single from Peach Cooler, “You Talk Too Much.” Punctuated blasts of retro guitar energy kick this one off before launching into “I’m feeling spicy, I’m real hot right now.” PC repeatedly tell someone who is ostensibly annoying to “shut [their] pretty little mouth” while keeping things lighthearted and fun with their beachy, guitar-driven energies. Fans of The Beths, Vampire Weekend, and a happier Clairo will go crazy for this one. You can find “You Talk Too Much” on both Apple Music and Spotify. Enjoy a live session of the song below via YouTube.

Porcelain Tongue – Goodbye Peggy

August 4, 2023

Porcelain Tongue is here to talk about loss – the tellingly-titled Goodbye Peggy is their latest offering, a stark title for a hard look at what it means to lose somebody you love. The sophomore release from this Boise-based quartet is a shoegaze-tinged approach that implements significant elements of both emo and straightforward indie rock. Opening track “Support” is archetypal Porcelain Tongue. These dudes have clearly spent many a beer-soaked night in a room with each other – certainly two effective ways to deal with the loss of a loved one (drinking and playing music, that is). Lines like “You say you’re fine, but I know you’re lying” encapsulate these hard-to-talk-about feelings perfectly, while the band wrenches and bends through a number of tempo changes, almost like an irregular, grief-stricken heartbeat. Fuzzed-out bass pushes this one forward, while guitars soar and scream in unison – it’s the perfect way to open an[...]

The Cast-Iron Canaries – Propagaga

July 31, 2023

It’s hard to believe that the 90s were 30+ years ago, but here we are in 2023… And that means grimy punk rock act The Cast-Iron Canaries are celebrating a milestone anniversary of their 1993 EP, Propagaga. Although the band thought their work had been lost forever, engineer/producer Jonathan Burnside stumbled across the project at Razor’s Edge Studios in the Haight Ashbury district. Since discovering this lost gem, they just put out a special reissue of the album earlier this month (7/14), and we’re lucky enough to have the chance to revisit this fun time capsule of early 90s punk rock. Fans of The Misfits, Manic Street Preachers, Sex Pistols, and even Reel Big Fish (!) can find lots to love about this EP. Song one, “Eternal Prom Queen” starts out with a guttural scream followed by the hallmarks of The Cast-Iron Canaries’ sound. Expect buzzing guitar noise; oi-oi-oi singalongs; and[...]

Shaven Primates – Birds Aren’t Real

July 28, 2023

Shaven Primates are a five-piece from Oxford, UK who hit our inboxes with the “alt thought” experiment of their latest EP, Birds Arent Real. The band exists to push the boundaries of independent rock music, typically challenging both ears and brains simultaneously with a mix of dark wave, art rock, and post punk layered atop of a solid prog bedrock. This latest batch of five continues that trend – a highly conceptual (and borderline conspiratorial) offering with plenty to think about, both musically and lyrically… All it’s missing is an exposé on the moon landing (which is, without a doubt, fake). Album opener “Fade Away” touches on the presence of fascism in social media – as the band explains it, it was: “Inspired by the Louis Theroux interviews with YouTubers Nick Fuentes and Baked Alaska.” The ideas portrayed here are cleverly veiled with pointed (but not finger-pointed) turns of phrase, which helps the[...]

Le Big Zero – At Arm’s Length

July 25, 2023

The perpetually rotating (but nevertheless crucial) members of Le Big Zero (LBZ) have persevered through a lot… Think cross-country moves; DIY tours; and the aforementioned revolving door of necessary-but-temporary bandmates. Since you’re reading this review, it’s clear they’re still alive – the band’s proverbial heart kept beating by mainstays Michael Pasuit and Ben Ross. They’ve been joined by Katie Cooney and Lukas Hirsch, who have been with the band since 2022’s A Proper Mess. In case you missed it, we wrote about the excellent “Beach Séance” from that offering last year – be sure to check it out here. But we’re not talking about 2022 right now – we’re here to talk about Le Big Zero’s most recent output, At Arm’s Length. For a band named after literally zilch, nil, nada, this quartet pumps out a lot of sound… And uniquely too. Fans of Speedy Ortiz; Foyer Red; Pavement; and Les[...]

Graffiti Welfare – Revolving Shores

July 23, 2023

Denver’s Graffiti Welfare (aka, mastermind George Lattimore) makes music to disassociate to. That’s not a dig in any sense of the word – in fact, the lush reverbs and cavernous vocal presence make for an otherworldly experience, perfect for simultaneously zoning out while listening ever-so-intently. His latest batch of music, the ten-song Revolving Shores, is archetypal in its psych-electronica approach… A solo acid trip full of thick, heady music to get lost inside of. With some psychy, freak-out albums, it’s easy to think that there’s an avant-garde approach to the music – a more “creative and freeform flailing” as opposed to something heartfelt and pure. Graffiti Welfare finds the happy medium between the two – inspired by his grandparents that passed away during the creation of the album, Revolving Shores certainly tugs on heartstrings while maintaining its ethereal charm. Fans of anyone from Tame Impala; to Pink Floyd; to Animal[...]

RHNO – “Debutante”

July 21, 2023

It’s tough to believe that RHNO crafted the Tame Impala-esque “Debutante” from the comfort of his bedroom, but here we are! With heady bass licks; airy vocals; and a danceable beat, “Debutante” struts and thrives with plenty of vintage tape flavors. Falling somewhere on the spectrum between lo-fi and a masterfully mixed pop nugget, “Debutante” captures a subtle vintage vibe without ever sounding dated or contrived… Even the album art matches their old-school aesthetic. Check out “Debutante” via the YouTube embed below.

Duster – Stratosphere

July 18, 2023

It’s hard to believe that 1998 was 25 years ago… And it’s even harder to believe that 25 years after the fact, San Jose’s Duster has found viral success on TikTok, of all places. Not to say the band doesn’t deserve it – their mercurial blend of “home recording accidents” and “blown-out 2am studio experiments” clearly resulted in something special, Stratosphere, an iconic and well-deserved milestone in pre Y2K slow core, indie rock, and beyond. The 17-song collection is full of Casiotone meanderings; jangly guitars dripping with emotions; and microphone-in-a-room drum tones that sound as iconic today, potentially even more so, as they did back then. If you’ve been on social media any time over the last few years, you’re probably familiar with the now iconic “Inside Out.” Having racked up an impressive 140 million+ streams on Spotify alone (and 7.2 billion (!) times on TikTok), there’s no doubt Duster[...]

In Search Of – Alice and the Wonderland

July 12, 2023

Our latest feature comes from Los Angeles-based act In Search Of. The eclectic duo is here with a unique take on a literature staple, re-told through the lens of pop rock. It’s called Alice and the Wonderland, and you can listen to it on Spotify right now. You may recognize half of In Search Of from The Voice (team Blake, woo!)… But Michelle Ray’s beautiful voice has been heard all over, including in commercial placements (Bloomingdales, Nickelodeon, Mastercard, Maybellene, just to name a few); on film and television placements; in theatre productions (Alanis Morissette – The Album Project: Jagged Little Pill and American Idiot); as well as live performances throughout her hometown of LA. She’s teamed up with a very special guest, her father and virtuoso guitarist Michael Raitzin, to bring you Alice and the Wonderland, and their unique (but undoubtedly strong) background makes for a wild ride through 13 unforgettable tracks. There’s an[...]

Shanf x Waxamilion – “Wipelash”

July 8, 2023

We’re digging this mathy/inexplicable collab between Shanf and Waxamilion that they’ve entitled “Wipelash.” With bumbling synth flavors; an airy, vocoded vocal presence; and a shuffling percussive presence, “Wipelash” sounds like your favorite, twinkly emo band run through a very pleasant 8-bit filter. In case you needed any extra inspo to like this one, be sure to stick around for the dueling synth/guitar solo around the 1:55 mark – it’s exquisite. Check out “Wipelash” now via Bandcamp (below) and/or Spotify. MEATBALL by Shanf

sheep eyes – “Should Be Blood”

July 8, 2023

LA-based band sheep eyes was born out of a desire to create danceable garage rock/post-punk. We think they’ve hit the mark on their latest single, “Should Be Blood,” which has all the energy of the ’00s rock revival without ever sounding a pastiche. A meandering guitar grind powers this one forth while punctuated vocals create a catchy and groovy rhythm. Fans of Parquet Courts, The Strokes, and Viagara Boys will find lots to love about this. PS: if you need inspiration (and a visual represenation of how WE danced to “Should Be Blood”), give the music video a whirl. Check out the YouTube video for “Should Be Blood,” purchase it via Bandcamp, or add it to your Spotify playlist.

chris portka – trash music

July 6, 2023

California bay area-based artist Chris Portka has always dreamt of being a musician. With his roots dating back to the dirty, blistering grunge of the ’90s, a young portka followed his heart… He fought past crippling stage fright; anxiety attacks during Elliot Smith covers; and a voice that sounds like a “Rhinoceros fighting to befriend an Elephant” (his words not ours) to get where he is today. It’s safe to say that portka has devoted a fair amount of blood, sweat, and tears to make this whole music thing work. And while he makes himself at home in any jam session (whether it be on an acoustic guitar or a synth or a piano), there’s a deeper, stranger fire burning within him. As he puts it: “my roots burrow in this impressionistic improv that reflects a fierce internal conflict.” Enter trash music, portka’s latest offering. It’s a twelve song album[...]

Disco Sam – American Nightlife

July 5, 2023

In this infinite void of new music, few acts have the ability to transport your mind to a world of infectious rhythms, cheeky melodies, and fun bedroom-pop quirkiness quite like Disco Sam. He’s about to release a brand new EP, his 7th (!), one he’s calling American Nightlife. Upon listening, it’s evident that this ain’t Sam’s first rodeo, and the enigmatic frontman once again shows his irresistible appeal in this brand new batch of charming, disco-flavored bedroom-pop compositions. The EP opens with “Draws Me Inside,” and the hallmarks of Sam’s songwriting go-tos start to shine through immediately. The basslines on American Nightlife are absolutely the backbone of these tunes, bobbing and weaving around the fretboard with an itchy sort of bounce. Sam’s vocals also shine through here, a characteristic baritone that sounds like it belongs at a sweaty, sexy basement show. There’s something seductive about Disco Sam, and “Draws” is[...]

Oh Land – “My Freak”

July 4, 2023

Danish stunner Oh Land (aka songwriter/singer Nanna Øland Fabricius) specializes in genre-bending pop wizardry as evidenced by latest offering, “My Freak.” The disco-forward track has a lovely energy that makes use of a bubbling bass undercurrent; twinkles of warm Rhodes; and, of course, Fabricius’ silky-smooth vocals. With super-hooky rhythms and a retro-but-modernized approach, “Freak” has a sort of cosmic mass appeal, at least to our alien-esque ears. About the song, Nanna explains: “‘My Freak’ is a celebration of the deep love you find with someone as weird as yourself.” Stream “My Freak” via Spotify and Apple Music.

ROREY – “Apt 7d”

July 3, 2023

There’s no shortage of NYC-based acts that have changed music… The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Interpol – basically any band you’d have seen or read about in the semi-recent Meet Me In The Bathroom documentary. With The Strokes having won a Grammy for The New Abnormal; Yeah Yeah Yeahs riding high on the success of their new album; and Interpol touring the world and playing stadiums with The Smashing Pumpkins, there’s no doubt the world is ready and willing to hear more NYC-bred, guitar-driven music. Enter wunderkind ROREY, the 23 year old grunge-popper who is turning heads with her palatable blend of ’90s influenced nostalgia triggers. We’ve had the pleasure of reviewing her latest album, Apt 7d, and it itches that deep-rooted scratching that exists in our tired millennial brains for good times (i.e. the aughts) now long past. EP opener “Burned Your Letter” introduces us to the hallmarks of ROREY’s sound –[...]