Much like their first two albums, Paper Mice’s latest once again pulls their stories from newspaper headlines, and thankfully they picked some of the lighter and more hilarious articles. Lead single “The Cynic Route” happens to be about a group of Russian men who decided to illegally cross over a bridge disguised as a yellow school bus.
As the sole member of the indie-rock outfit Hand Habits, Meg Duffy released the thrifty EP Dirt: just two songs, or three if the digital exclusive remix of their previous song “What’s the Use” is included. It never feels lightweight though, packing much vibrancy and notes of interest into just ten minutes; brevity is Duffy’s friend here.
Much of what Mush does on their second LP is political. A political British post-punk album is hardly a new concept but what makes it work is Hyndman’s vocals: where the growling idyllic gospel of IDLES can come off preachy, Hyndman’s delivery is so chaotic and ridiculous that the ludicrousness of the current political climate is laid bare.
Set for release on April 2nd via Feel It Records, there’s little time to waste however and Spread Joy are sharing a new video for two of the album’s many highlights, “St. Tropez” and “Semantics.” That idea of no time to waste is one they take to heart with the ten song debut clocking in at fourteen minutes. It’s all pulp, no juice… or all juice, no pulp, whichever.
Currently riding atop a great wave of rapid, gilt-edged output, we are gifted Tha God Fahim and Your Old Droog’s newest collaborative LP, Tha YOD Fahim; an organic, roots-futuristic expression of the modern day epoch. Ever-sharpening blades, we hear the pair's lyricism reach radiant heights with profound wordage and natural cadence.
On their debut, Fake Fruit show they are seasoned and firm footed in their musical attack, playing fully to their strengths while also exhibiting a mischievous streak. The sequencing on the record is masterful and never lets the record fall flat, allowing for the various tempos and moods to shine brightly.
Godino is set to release his next odyssey, Alien Nation, his first record under his own name. Due out April 2nd via Feeding Tube Records (Wren Kitz, Big Blood, Blanche Blanche Blanche), the album is not one you will soon forget, steeping in a cartoonish insanity that feels like a head full of acid at the most sugar-spun of carnival sideshows
When Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea arrived in 2000, it did so as the nexus of any number of narratives that had been building to that point. For all of the believers, it was Harvey’s first really “mature” album, the apex of her ability as a songwriter, wherein all the shadow and sex of her music finally erupted into defiant Y2K apocalypticism.
Boston quartet Moron is led by Brendan Delohery (vocals) with the band is rounded out by Ovlov’s Theo Hartlett (guitar), Ronald Baron Smooth Jazz (bass), and PHONY’s Neil Berthier (drums). With the release of the Allston Live Demmies, the band play a pointed brand of punk and post-punk, with plenty of tongue-in-cheek lyrical jabs.
The Green Child began as a long-distance collaboration between band members Raven Mahon (ex-Grass Widow) and Mikey Young (Total Control, Eddy Current Suppression Ring). Shimmering Basset finds the duo now united in Rye, Australia. The results of their newfound proximity are some of their strongest and most distinctive work yet.
Nick Vicario has released great punk records, both noisy hardcore (Crisis Man) and post-punk (Public Eye). He’s also released a string of EPs from his solo project, Smirk. Having released a pair of cassettes in 2020, those efforts have been remastered are being released together on vinyl as LP on 3/5 via Feel It and Drunken Sailor Records.
Songs From Another Life, the latest album from Spanish/Swedish supergroup The Boys With The Perpetual Nervousness, is one of the first Bandcamp-core albums in recent memory to properly embody power pop’s platonic ideals. The album exists in an alternate reality where ‘60s worship and alt-rock sensibilities never cross-pollinated.
Spiritual Mafia features members of EXEK, Spray Paint, Ausmuteants, etc which should give you a hint at Al Fresco, their debut album (out March 12th via Ever/Never and Anti Fade). While their pedigree precedes them, this is something a bit different, trading in the brainy agitation for something blunt and bludgeoning, a haze of proto punk sleaze and drugged out garage psych.
![PJ Harvey - "Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea" [Reissue] | Album Review](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56066cf9e4b0ffbc0fe62db1/1615349347985-5UO9KHBEPF35WZY43NAR/320x0w.jpg)
