Thankfully, both Duff and Koma have moved on from the thumping theatrics of the mid-2010s. luck… is less Zedd and more Carly Rae Jepsen, another former Koma collaborator, whose bright, princess-y vocal tone resembles Duff’s. The album’s base notes are chirpy synths and strummy acoustic pop, embellished with gated drum fills and swoopy strings—softer, pliable … Read more
“There’s life and there’s death. We were still alive, so we thought we’d carry on doing it,” Stephen Morris said in 1983 about New Order, a diamond formed in the pressure of grief after the death of Joy Divison’s Ian Curtis. For Injury Reserve bandmates Ritchie With a T and Parker Corey, the death of … Read more
If political art becomes more timely post-release, it’s usually because the injustices it addresses began long before they rose to broader public consciousness. When Slut Intent introduced themselves as Minneapolis’ newest “hardcore girl band” mere days into 2024, Renee Good was still alive and all four cops convicted in George Floyd’s murder were locked in … Read more
caroline 2 aptly embodies sequel-ese: bolder, brighter, more accessible, and more ambitious all at once. Yet for all of its refinement and progress, caroline 2 allows its creators to fully embrace their role as UK post-rock’s preeminent sentimentalists. From the very beginning, the songs of the London octet have contained a sense of earnest wonder: … Read more
If there is something genuinely new on Instant Holograms on Metal Film, it comes in addition of men’s voices, from bassist Xavi Muñoz and keyboard player Joe Watson, on songs like “Aerial Troubles,” “Le Coeur et la Force,” and “Esemplastic Creeping Eruption.” This isn’t entirely unexplored territory for Stereolab—Jean-Baptiste Garnero, of the French band Spring, … Read more
Dan Bejar is a master of apocalyptic absurdity. In his work, unbearable heat is parrot weather. The Renaissance painter Tintoretto becomes shorthand for being dumb. “Crimson Tide” might be a reference to the Alabama football team and to blood and how it drips out of your body. As Bejar explains it, a crimson tide is … Read more
Drop Nineteens, an American shoegaze band, had a notable journey through the music industry, marked by evolution and reinvention. Their story begins with the release of their first demos, which gained critical attention, particularly for the song “Mayfield.” The band’s initial lineup included Greg ackell, Paula Kelley, and Chris Roof. Kelley, who had sung on … Read more
. Sharon Van Etten, known for her intimate and emotionally raw indie folk, has always pushed boundaries. But with her latest project, Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory, the singer-songwriter takes a bold leap into uncharted sonic territory. The album abandons the familiar song structures of her previous work, instead embracing a more experimental, … Read more
Debut Album Celebrates Life, Loss, and Inner Reflections In a vibrant musical journey, young musician Daniils Bulajevs weaves a tapestry of life, loss, and introspection in his debut album. The album not only marks the start of an illustrious career but also pays homage to three legendary violinists and composers: Eugène Ysaÿe, Ernest Bloch, and … Read more
Franz Ferdinand, the Scottish indie rock band known for their blend of new wave, Britpop, and punk energy, have returned with their sixth studio album, “The Human Fear.” Released in 2023, the album marks a continuation of their signature sound, reminiscent of 2018’s “Always Ascending,” while exploring themes of fear and the human condition. ### … Read more