Gordon Goldsmith, the singer-songwriter behind Burlington’s The Young Love Scene, takes his cues from the best indie and alt rock of the mid-90s on the project’s debut album, which collates several singles and EPs released over the past year. The harmonized fuzz of Goldsmith’s guitars and vocals bring his music’s emotional heart to its full […]

Burlington’s Lillian Seibert blends bedroom-pop and neo-soul on her debut EP, co-produced by VT hip-hop veteran Jarv. Seibert softly intones her lyrics about romance and heartbreak over gentle guitar and Jarv’s funky drum loops. (Also consider airing her ethereal, jazzy, timeless-sounding single “Spring” from earlier this year!) Track Picks: 1, 3, “Spring” FCC: 2, 4 […]

Burlingtonian singer-songwriter Francesca Blanchard’s latest single might be her best yet. Over a shimmering nu-disco groove, Francesca both sings (in English) and recites (in French) lyrics which evoke looking forward, taking chances, and the awe-inspiring power of nature. FCC: Clean RIYL: Maggie Rogers, Phoebe Bridgers, Christine and the Queens

UVM garage-rock freaks Pons recently left BTV for Brooklyn, leaving this EP as their parting gift. Their trademark whirlwind wall of noise is intact, with bludgeoning punk tracks with squawking sax (courtesy of UVM’s Cam Barnes) alongside thumping electronic numbers, all surrounded by a massive fuzz of distortion. Track Picks: 1, 4, 5 FCC: Clean […]

Brooklyn’s Dan Strauss and Burlington’s Ted Looby team up for this twangy alt-rock number that could have come straight out of the mid-90’s, with its jangly guitar chords and clever lyrics about the male ego. FCC: Clean RIYL: Semisonic, Wilco, Dinosaur Jr., Gin Blossoms

Winooski’s Remi Russin filters the sound of 80s post-punk through a modern lo-fi indie lens on their latest EP. Awash in echoey synth and chiming guitar leads, with harmonized vocals and a chugging rhythm section, this record’s warm, spacey sonics are a treat for the ears. Track Picks: 1, 2, 5 FCC: Clean RIYL: New […]

The latest EP from Burlington-based singer-songwriter Harrison Hsiang’s indie project Couchsleepers compiles the six excellent singles the band has released this year. Tracks alternate between hefty power-pop with screaming slide-guitar, and more low-key folky numbers, all with Hsiang’s trademark lovelorn lyrics and top-tier songcraft. Track Picks: 1, 2, 6 FCC: Clean RIYL: Pinegrove, Jimmy Eat […]

Veteran VT musician Peg Tassey taps into the spirit of the late ‘60s psychedelic proto-punk explosion with her latest single “Queen of Flowers.” With crushing fuzzy guitar, thudding drums, and Tassey’s commanding vocals, the song sounds as powerful and awe-inspiring as the nature-goddess character the lyrics describe. FCC: Clean  RIYL: The Murlocs, The Stooges, Blue […]

The first EP from indie duo Lavenderlux, a remotely-made collaboration between Butlington’s Amelia Wilcox and Washington state’s Joshua Human, has twangy tunes for both upbeat and somber moods. Lyrically, the record is themed around the idea of moving forward out of stagnant but comfortable places in life.  Track Picks: 1, 5 FCC: 2 RIYL: Frances […]

Burlington singer-songwriter (and former WRUV DJ) Ivamae delivers an echoey blend of indie-rock and jazz-pop wrapped around the swinging drumbeats of local legend Urian Hackney. This unique sound provides the perfect backdrop for her soul-inflected vocals.  Track Picks: 1, 3, 4 FCC: 8 RIYL: Fiona Apple, Tori Amos, St. Vincent, Weyes Blood

Burlington-based singer-songwriter Guthrie Galileo’s latest EP is a collection of gorgeously arranged, produced and performed alt-pop and R&B. His vocals are packed with genuine emotion but not overwrought, often overlaid in gorgeous harmonies and perfectly matching the varied electronic and acoustic instrumental backing.  Track Picks: 1, 4 FCC: Clean RIYL: The Weeknd, Toro y Moi, […]

BTV singer-songwriter-producer Princess Nostalgia returns with a smooth, slow burning electronic R&B groover. Smoky vocals with abstract, vaguely astrological lyrics float atop a swung trip-hop beat full of synthesized choral voices. FCC: Clean RIYL: Everything But the Girl, St. Vincent, Maggie Rogers, Tricky

Brattleboro-based one-man band Dari Bay’s latest release is a fuzzy collection of lo-fi post-punk with locked-in, angular guitar and bass lines at its core. Vocals are buried in the mix, and alternate between punky recitations and tuneful melodies depending on the track, creating a truly unique sound. Track Picks: 2, 3, 5 FCC: 4, 8, […]

Burlingtonian rockers The Young Love Scene wear their love of 90s indie rock on their sleeves. Tracks on this EP alternate between fierce, fast-paced melodic rock numbers and slowed-down melancholy jams, and they’re excellent at both. Creative guitar riffs, screaming guitar leads and octave-apart vocal harmonies are all highlights too. Track Picks: 1, 4, 5 […]

BTV garage-punk weirdos Pons are as wild as ever on their latest single, which features a pounding club beat topped with surreal, David Lynch-inspired lyrics and a fuzzy miasma of instrumental noise (including sax riffs courtesy of Cam Barnes).  (if you play this song, please announce that Pons will be performing alongside Princess Nostalgia and […]

The latest of five singles released by BTV rock outfit Couchsleepers this year, “Just a Minute” is their purest slice of power pop yet, with big hooks, screaming slices of guitar and organ, and a quiet-to-loud arrangement which complements the lyrical theme of emotional catharsis. FCC: Clean RIYL: Jimmy Eat World, Pinegrove, Semisonic

The latest record from veteran VT musician Bow Thayer is a smooth batch of alt-folk numbers blending a variety of styles. Straight-ahead funky drumbeats lay a foundation for all flavors of twang, with a few oddball electronic flourishes thrown in for good measure. Thayer’s lyrics reflect the confusion, pain and isolation of the last few […]

BTV singer-songwriter Lily Seabird’s debut single is an inspired slice of twangy alt-rock in uncommon time, with screaming guitar leads and charming vocals delivering lyrics about feeling small and helpless.  FCC: Clean  RIYL: Big Thief, The Breeders, Courtney Barnett, Dinosaur Jr.

Harrison Hsiang, the singer-songwriter behind BTV indie project Couchsleepers, can’t figure out if his latest single “is a love song or something opposite.” This duality is reflected in the song’s haunting, dynamic instrumentation, which largely centers around folky picking and slide guitar, occasionally punctuated by massive stabs of drums and keyboard.  FCC: Clean RIYL: Pinegrove, […]

Enigmatic one-man VT indie project Black Fly’s debut album alternates between dark yet danceable synthpop and slower, more piano-and-string driven numbers. The brilliantly produced sonic landscapes evoke a subtly sinister mood, and the artist’s talent for hooks is undeniable. Track Picks: 2, 5, 6, 8 FCC: 3, 7 RIYL: Bleachers, Reptaliens, Bon Iver, Radiohead, Madaila