New Orleans duo Lawn released their second album, Johnny, less than two weeks ago via Community Records and Muscle Beach, an incredible album that stands among the best we’ve heard this Summer. The album covers a wide range of musical inspiration from hard wired post-punk to jangly indie-pop, excelling at it all.
Profligate has been serving up goth-inspired dark pop for several years, and the musician’s upcoming album Too Numb to Know is a shining example of his refined songwriting abilities. The latest single “No Clear Way” is a standout offering with richly textured arpeggiating synths that drip with melancholic atmosphere.
The album’s centerpiece, “Kissing Under Some Bats,” is the prime example of Mekbelly’s melodic destruction gone haywire, harnessed at times and unhinged at others. For two and half minutes we’re given a punishing dose of the band’s signature post-hardcore dexterity and noise pop charm, and then, it all comes unglued.
Today Born Yesterday welcomes Red Tunic to the family, the solo project of Chicago via Cincinnati’s Ezra Saulnier. No stranger to the artistic punk world, Saulnier was previously a core member of Cross Country, a band that faded out as he moved. With a new location and a new project, Red Tunic have released their debut two song single.
Last month New York’s Common Sage released Might as Well Eat the Chicken, We Won't Be Here in the Morning, their first new release since their debut album in 2018. Comprised of three songs and three segues that tie them together, it’s a collection of emotional songs that are built on personal reflection and shifting moods.
“Held Open Door” is Tired and True’s first single, a song that reintroduces Maya Stoner’s project with a vibrant and radiant force. Opening with an immediately detached guitar progression reminiscent of both Television and Palm, the guitar is dreamy and dissonant, the perfect art-pop mirage for the impossibly catchy vocals.
New York’s Brandy come from a strong line of blown out and noisy punks, with core members having previously played in Pampers and Running. Following on from their debut LP, the trio are set to release their next album, The Gift of Repetition, on September 18th via their new home at Total Punk Records (ISS, Foster Care, CIVIC).
From their sense of tonality to the dynamic approach to their songwriting (something that can otherwise plague noise rock), Exhalants are forever changing shape, but keep things consistent with volume, force, and intense tension. They are a national treasure and it’s about time they get recognized as such.
Lily Konigsberg is as adept at creating outsider pop as would be radio smash hits. Now Konigsberg has teamed up with LUCY, the long running project of Western MA’s Cooper Handy. Together as Lily / Lucy, the duo will release their self titled collaborative debut via Good Flavor (Masters of Fright, Sweet Baby Jesus).
Caustics have truly stepped outside our reality and into another dimension on their recently released album, Touch, out now via Moone Records and Deathbomb Arc. The quartet of John Dieterich (Deerhoof), Yasi Perera (Breezy Days Band), Josiah Wolf (Why?), and Devin Hoff (Julia Holter) came together to create something unheard.
In the rich landscape of Chicago’s indie rock scene, Pool Holograph deserve a spot right by their buzzing peers in Dehd and Deeper. The band, who have played in one shape or another for a decade, create forward thinking music, unafraid to explore new avenues as they wander between art rock, fuzzy pop, and minimalist post-punk.
Set to release their sophomore full length on September 25th via Forged Artifacts (Double Grave, Total Revenge, Dweller) the band are keeping the vibes dusty throughout Wings of Love, but it’s the laid back vibes and easy melodies that help transport everything away from our reality as the world continues to burn.
For everyone that needs a temporary escape from this reality and a trip into another musical dimension altogether, Mezzanine Swimmers are here for you. The solo project of Mike Green (Video Daughters) has followed up 2018’s Black Cat In Heat with Kneelin’ on a Knife, released this past Friday via Already Dead Tapes and Records.
Oceanator recently shared “Heartbeat,” the third and final single from their upcoming full length debut, Things I Never Said and now it has a video. The highly anticipated album, out August 28th via Plastic Miracles, captures Elise Okusami’s songwriting at it’s best, a strong effort that sits between pop, rock, and alternative radio gold.
Take our word for it, Leeds’ Blacklisters are the best noise rock band on the planet. We’re only a week away from the release of their third full length album, Fantastic Man, their first new LP in five years. The band continue their masterful approach at remaining willingly off the rails, but they do it with menace void of machismo, aiming just about all their efforts at showing just how dumb being tough looks.
Oakland’s Lunchbox have been releasing records since the mid 90’s but their upcoming album, After School Special, is their first for the legendary Slumberland Records (Peel Dream Magazine, Lake Ruth, Failed Flowers). The pairing is a match made in heaven, a dreamy home for a band making dreamy music.
