The Burlington-based singer-songwriter’s first full-length in five years takes listeners through various aspects of a failing relationship. Highlights include the anthemic title track and “Baby,” a very catchy number with a striking vocal “guitar” solo. Track Picks: 1, 4, 9 FCC: Clean RIYL: Mitski, Phoebe Bridgers, Weyes Blood, Maggie Rogers

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

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, […]

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

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

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

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

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! […]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 […]

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