Category Local
The Larkspurs – Live at East Montpelier Meeting House [Self-released] (LOCAL)
The first release from local roots revival quartet The Larkspurs features a mix of originals, covers and adapted standards played with freshness, vigor and passion. Track Picks: 1, 3, 6FCC: Clean RIYL: The Wild Reeds, Oh Hellos, The Head and the Heart
Honey and Soul – Separate Her Heart [Tank Recording] (LOCAL)
The new single from Burlington folk trio Honey & Soul is a particularly gorgeous acoustic piece, with soaring strings and gentle guitars topped with passionate three-part harmonies. FCC: Clean RIYL: Brandi Carlile, Iris DeMent, Alison Krauss, The Wild Reeds
Francesca Blanchard – Happy For You [Tone Tree Music] (LOCAL)
The Burlington singer-songwriter’s latest EP compiles four singles released over the past year, each depicting different aspects of a strained relationship. The title track is an acoustic guitar number with strings, while others take a more heavily produced indie sound. Track Picks: 2, 4 FCC: Clean RIYL: Mitski, Phoebe Bridgers, Clever Girls
Madaila – West [Future Fields] (LOCAL)
The first of four EPs announced for release in 2020 by Mark Daly’s one-man band Madaila, West takes a rootsier approach to the project’s sound without sacrificing any of their songcraft. A gorgeous collection of harmonic folky rock with a psychedelic twinge. Track Picks: 1, 2, 5 FCC: Clean RIYL: Lord Huron, Iron and Wine, […]
Sarah King and the Guilty Henchmen – What Happened Last Night [Self-released] (LOCAL)
VT-based blues artist Sarah King turns out a particularly smooth and soulful set of ballads on this album, with detours into harder, funkier material on the title track and “The Gun.” Track picks: 1, 4, 5, 6, 11 FCC: Clean RIYL: Erin and the Wildfire, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Marcus King
Couchsleepers – Only When It’s Dark (Self-released) [LOCAL]
The debut full-length from Harrison Hsiang’s project Couchsleepers typifies his brand of “folk songwriting that tastes like indie rock,” with lyrics centered around romance, heartbreak and insomnia. Track picks: 2, 3, 7, 9 FCC: 7 (clean version available in station and on Subsonic!) RIYL: Pinegrove, Peach Pit, Theo Katzman
King Tuff – I’m Free [Sub Pop] (LOCAL)
Brattleboro-born psych rocker King Tuff first penned the track “I’m Free” for the Ty Segall album Freedom’s Goblin. His own recording of the track features a breezy 60s folk-pop arrangement befitting the title and lyrics. Featuring genuine Vermont crickets on backing vocals! FCC: Clean RIYL: Ty Segall, The Byrds, CSNY, George Harrison
Matthew Mercury – Remixes [Self-released] (LOCAL)
Matthew Mercury return with three dance-club remixes of tracks from their debut album. Included are “Lightning Ocean” (Gentry Mix), “London” (Christopher Hawthorn Mix), and “Swing Like a Hammer” (remixed by WRUV’s own Two Sev!). This last one has yet to hit streaming services – email broth@uvm.edu for mp3s, or play it from the disc in […]
Ali T – Smoke + Mirrors (Big Mo Records) [LOCAL]
VT-based singer-songwriter Ali T’s debut album is a polished and heartfelt collection of tunes in a variety of styles, with lyrics on topics ranging from gun violence (“Smoking Gun”) to escaping Vermont winters (“Paradise Reality”). Track picks: 3, 4, 6 FCC: Clean RIYL: Alanis Morrissette, 4 Non Blondes, Miriam Bernardo
A2VT – Twenty Infinity (Mercury Rising Music) [LOCAL]
A2VT is an Afropop group founded by African refugees in the Burlington area. Their latest album is all bright, shiny dance beats and hooks, with lyrics (in English, Swahili and Maay Maay) tackling both lighthearted and serious topics. Highly recommended! Track Picks: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 FCC: Clean RIYL: Rema, Burna Boy, Wizkid
Princess Nostalgia – Thank Heavens 4 Opposable Thumbs (Self-released) [LOCAL]
This UVM singer-songwriter-producer’s debut album is full of slick, shiny synths, vocals often drenched in autotune, funky guitars and deeply hooky grooves, all coming together to form a low-burning collection of electronic alt-pop. Track Picks: 1, 3, 5 FCC: 4 RIYL: Mitski, Maggie Rogers, Lorde
Brickdrop – Change the Channel (Self-released) [LOCAL]
The latest release from Burlington jazz-funk instrumentalists Brickdrop is perfect for fans of music with hefty grooves, pristine playing, and lots of horns. Track picks: 1, 7 FCC: Clean RIYL: Lettuce, Snarky Puppy, Galactic
Couchsleepers – 2019 Singles [Self-released] (LOCAL)
Burlington indie group Couchsleepers have released three singles in 2019 – the uptempo melodic rock numbers “Want” and “In My Head,” and the smooth Rhodes funk groover “All I Want.” A fourth, the ballad “Half the Night,” dropped at the beginning of 2020. All songs have heartfelt lyrics about relationships and longing. Track Picks: All! […]
Danny & the Parts – It Came From the Box [Self-released] (LOCAL)
Burlington singer-songwriter Danny LeFrancois’ latest EP is a collection of twangy alt-Americana full of warm fuzzy guitars and power-pop harmonies. Track Picks: 1, 5, 6 FCC: Clean RIYL: Wilco, Kurt Vile, J Bengoy
Roost – Basic Phases (Self-released) [LOCAL]
This local dance-punk group’s latest EP is full of long, slow-burning tracks with driving electronic grooves and low, often spoken vocals. A musical melange of various new wave and post-punk sounds straight out of the turn of the 1980s. Start with: 2, 4 FCC: Clean RIYL: LCD Soundsystem, New Order, Human League, Yaz, Guerilla Toss
Clever Girls – Remember Pluto (Single) (EggHunt Records) [LOCAL]
The latest single from this Burlington indie rock group features a twangy, very catchy guitar lead, a soaring wordless chorus, and production which gradually grows more and more lo-fi and distorted, for a sound that’s at once familiar and unique. FCC: Clean RIYL: Hop Along, Real Estate, Frankie Cosmos, J Bengoy
Miriam Bernardo – Songs from the Well (Flower Fields Records) [LOCAL]
Vermont music veteran Miriam Bernardo turns in a wonderful, lush collection of folk and folk-rock on her first solo album. Featuring contributions from many Vermont musicians and songwriters, including Hadestown creator Anaïs Mitchell (“I Got A Well”). FCC: Clean Track Picks: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 RIYL: Anaïs Mitchell, Ani DiFranco, Iron and Wine, Shana […]
Jason Baker – Common Man Blues (Self-released) [LOCAL]
Local ex-punk-turned-folkie Jason Baker describes his music as “sociopolitical Americana.” All acoustic, mostly solo, with plain-spoken lyrics about social and environmental issues sung in a deep, world-weary voice. FCC: 2 (clean version available) Track Picks: 4, 5, 11 RIYL: Pete Seeger, Leo Kottke, Gordon Lightfoot
The Onlys – Flyying Kite (Single) (Self-released) [LOCAL]
Shoegazey indie quartet The Onlys (currently split between Burlington and NYC) have a sound that’s upbeat yet full of melancholy. Their latest single is an understated, melodic number with abstract, poetic lyrics. FCC: Clean RIYL: Deerhunter, Real Estate, Wild Nothing, Beach Fossils
Chazzy Lake – Not Afraid of Your Crying Eyes (Single) (Self-released) [LOCAL]
The latest single from this Burlington singer-songwriter is a pristine, energetic folk-rock track with a soaring vocal performance and heartfelt lyrics about compassion and devotion. FCC: Clean RIYL: Fruit Bats, Dr. Dog, Kyle Craft, Jason Isbell
Matthew Mercury – Matthew Mercury (Self-released) [LOCAL]
The debut album from this VT-based group blends the sounds of modern alternative with a classic-rock songwriting sensibility. A very strong set of tunes. Start with: 3, 5, 6, 7 FCC: Clean RIYL: Spoon, Arcade Fire, The Growlers, Alabama Shakes
boys cruise – Jerry (Sleepyhead Music Group) [LOCAL]
The debut album from Burlington’s preeminent snow pop group (a term coined to refer to their particular brand of surfy, melodic punk) is packed with super-catchy riffs and hooks, and lyrics typifying the emotion and confusion of youth. Start with: 4, 6, 10 FCC: 2, 3, 8, 9 (track 12 has explicit title but clean […]
James Levy – Somebody (Innit Recordings/The Orchard) [LOCAL]
Shelburne, VT native James Levy returns from collaborating with the likes of Charles Bradley and Julian Casablancas with a mellow collection of country-folk-pop-rock, based mainly around piano, acoustic and steel guitar. Track Picks: 1, 2, 5, 12 FCC: None RIYL: Whitney, Avett Brothers, Orville Peck, Chris Isaak
Come To Your Senses- Pater Mayhew Band
A cool review in 7-days, “https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/peter-mayhew-band-come-to-your-senses/Content?oid=12093644” winner of best rock album in 2017. Album dedicated to Mother Earth…Rock local we appreciate!! play all
Rick Davies – Rick Davies Thugtet
Davies, Rick (Emlyn Music) Rick Davies Thugtet. Fourth CD of original tunes from this local Latin jazz musician who died in late 2015. Great musicians from both sides of Lake Champlain. Thugtet is based in Plattsburgh; Alex Stewart (sax) and Ray Vega (trumpet) from UVM sat in on the recording. Great energy in the music […]
