Incredibly idiosyncratic - albeit not to one another, the Atlanta-based quartet Mamalarky communicates amongst themselves in a tongue all their own. Their most recent release, Pocket Fantasy, is not an invitation into their world, but an overheard discussion felt so intensely that it is carried home by casual passerby.
It turns out that a slowed-down, remote, process gave Mushfoot ample time to think these songs thoroughly through, giving them the recording touches these detailed, layered songs require. They pick up on strands laid before them by the likes of My Bloody Valentine, Broadcast, Deerhoof, Stephen Merritt, and more.
In keeping with the promise of their 12”, Blush is an exciting addition within that catalog. An album length statement that stands rather asynchronous from the momentum of this New British Alternative moment; more akin to a dark horse alternative nudging towards the dancefloor catharsis of hundreds or even just one.
Enter Hit With The Most, the band’s latest. Intended as a love letter to its obvious early ‘80s pop influences, the album is mostly distorted guitars over mid-tempo slacker rock. Ribbon Stage is big on subtlety, vocals back in the mix and nary a cymbal on the record – the result is an almost unwavering focus on simplicity and melody.
Considering the band delivered their new album, Blue Rev, after multiple all-night sessions, just barely hitting their vinyl production deadline, and that it’s been five years since their last album, one might expect Alvvays’ third album to feel overthought. On the contrary, Alvvays have created their most surprising and rewarding album yet.
Schwartz Provides is the third in the series of Schwartz releases from NY via FL artist Winded. The record is powered by a stark and often solemn beauty provided by Thrin Vianale's higher registered vocals and entertaining songwriting. Vianale manages to balance full throated emotion with a concealed intensity that pushes to be unleashed.
Brooklyn band Jobber’s love for wrestling coming through in their name, artwork, song titles, and lyrics. On their debut EP Hell in a Cell, Jobber adopt wrestling’s insider language to explore workplace discontent and the struggle to be a good person in a shitty world. It’s a gimmick, sure, but it works.
On Lemons, the third full length from Fake Palms, the band strips away a little of the density of their previous albums and sprinkle in a bit more cheer and brightness. Their songs still carry a bit of anger and anxiety within their clattering guitars and slower tempos, but the melodies just hit with more force and clarity than previously displayed.
DIY/riot grrrl veterans Christina Billotte, Kathi Wilcox, and Steve Dore—released The Casual Dots in 2004, apparently with little press or self-promotion, but still establishing a fan base through blog-era word-of-mouth. After an 18-year hiatus, last month the band re-released their debut at the same time as their surprise second full-length, Sanguine Truth.
Mt. Surreal acts as an amalgamation of their previous work while journeying into something completely new. It’s an album of ambitious instrumentals and even more ambitious ideas. An album that wastes no space and never falters in its attempts to be what it’s trying to be, the best Disco Doom album yet.
On their third full length, Nicks and Grazes, Palm fully lean into expanding their electronic and dance urges while the conversational guitar skronkings and creative rhythm section embellishments bubble underneath. The flexibility that they continue to expand upon and the language they all speak between each other is astonishing.
“I want it to,” Eliza Niemi begins, little rattle, chucking her limbs to stay underwater–except the water is the present around her, its depth the curt end of her fingertips. Staying Mellow Blows is her third album; it is inside of her. She is a child the way Fiona Apple is a child: She is right. What she says is true.
Musically and lyrically Preoccupations has always been a band which focuses on the impending doom that will befall earth and humanity and Arrangements continues that dark manner of thinking and perhaps takes it even further. The bleak lens that Preoccupations view the world with has an even darker tint to it.
Julia Jacklin’s songwriting can be so intimate and direct that it can be, at times, discomforting for the listener. She gives voice to many of our own unspoken thoughts. We mistakenly assume we’re alone in our feelings, but when Jacklin hits an emotional nerve, we’re reminded that many of our suppressed thoughts are universal.
