Category Rock
LINDA FROM WORK – JEALOUS [SINGLE]
Label: Linda From Work (Self-Published)RIYL: Veruca Salt, Letters to CleoFCC: Safe! Slightly grungy girl-rock, interesting vocals and guitar. Play!
JESUS PIECE – …SO UNKNOWN [HARDCORE]
Blending hardcore and metal, Jesus Piece has returned with melodic yet hard-hitting guitar riffs and lyrics for a brutal second album. Frontman Aaron Heard’s screams will call you into the pit and ring in your ears for days. Label: Southern Lord Start w/ 3, 5, 7 FCC: Clean, except for 1, 2, 4 RIYL: Knocked […]
Verboten – Strange Rehab Ch. 2 (Ghost Mountain) [LOCAL]
Local artist Verboten (aka Foster Powell) writes and performs retro piano-driven power pop gems with a soft-spoken vocal delivery. Track Picks: 1, 2, 3 FCC: 4 RIYL: Jon Brion, Elliott Smith, The Lemon Twigs, Sage Hatfield
Amelia Wilcox – Thought Gazebo (Orange Store) [LOCAL]
Ethereal vocals and vibed-out electronic instrumentals make up the latest album from local indie pop artist Amelia Wilcox. Track Picks: 2, 4, 7 FCC: 1 RIYL: Mitski, Marika Hackman, Sufjan Stevens, Francesca Blanchard
Drain – Living Proof
Label: Epitaph Release Date: May 5, 2023 Drain injects a serious dose of relatability—not to mention catchiness—into hardcore’s penchant for toughness and brutality. FTS (KYS) is an ode to sobriety where chainsaw guitars and a brawling rhythm section battle against rousing roars to reinvent yourself and ‘kill all the parts that you don’t love’. There […]
Anti-Flag – Lies They Tell Our Children
Label: Spinefarm Release Date: January 6, 2023 Pittsburgh punks Anti-Flag may just have written the soundtrack to the greatest underdog story of all-time: The People vs… well, all of the insane nonsense we’re up against right now. Sure, that’s a relatively small silver lining in the scheme of things but, c’mon, they’re just one band. Lies They […]
Mysterious Love – Geese (Single) (Partisan Records)
Release date: May 9, 2023 RIYL: Squid, The Lounge Society, Parquet Courts FCC: 2 (one instance of “motherf*cker at the very end of the track – easy to censor) Like classic rock shot through with weirdness. A little punk, a little country, a little discordant, a lot chaotic, and a lot of fun!
Slow Pulp – Cramps (Single) (Anti/Epitaph)
Release date: February 27, 2023 RIYL: Momma, Castlebeat, Superchunk FCC: None Noisy, fuzzy, run indie rock track about the dangers of over-idealized self-expectations. Play!
Alice Phoebe Lou – Open My Door
Label: Self-Released Incredible new single released by Alice Phoebe Lou. The piano melodies give the piece a sort of oldies, jazzy feel, but the vocals and percussion bring the song to a modern indie rock genre. Open My Door features unbelievably beautiful lyrics centering around self-reflection. RIYL: Adrianne Lenker, Billie Marten, Lucy Dacus, Kate Bollinger […]
Palace – How Far We’ve Come
Label: Fiction Records (Universal Music Operations Limited) Palace’s newest release includes two new singles, “How Far We’ve Come”, and “All We’ve Ever Wanted”. Like most of Palace’s work, the songs have a very dreamy, spacey vibe driven by a repetitive but strong drum beat. These tracks have a bit more of a darker feel compared […]
Moondogs – Aurora (Aqua Bear) [LOCAL]
The 2nd full-band release by local jammers Moondogs harkens back to the psychedelic hip-hop flavor of their debut album with spacey synths and an unexpected rap verse from frontman Will Sturcke, but the group’s togetherness as a unit is what allows this song to take off into the stratosphere. A killer Santana-esque guitar hook and […]
Shir Frum – Party Pooper (Raw Tapes)
From promoter: Shir Frum (pronounced sheer froom) and collaborator Yotam Agan have crafted a debut album “full of heavy emotions but playful melodies, classical guitar and a drum machine, light touches of piano, and Frum’s multiple, beautiful voices. Totally self-recorded inside their shipping container studio over the next two years, Party Pooper is the sound […]
Fruit Bats – A River Running To Your Heart (Merge)
From promoter: “After two decades of making music, hard-earned emotional maturity has clearly seeped into [Eric D.] Johnson’s already inviting songs, resulting in a sound that’s connected with audiences like no other previous version of the band. A River Running to Your Heart represents the fullest realization of Johnson’s creative vision to date. It’s a […]
Various Artists- Weedian 420
Various Artists/Weedian- 420Release date: 2023Apr20Label: Heavy Psych SoundsRating: 4/5 Released on 4/20, this is a compilation of thirteen excellent tracks. Baby Goat Sick from Dopefight drips with sludge. Hippie Stick from Bongzilla is lush with bluesy riffs. Can’t wait to get in-depth with the new album soon! 9 Joint Spiritual Whip from Iron Monkey is […]
Piles of Smiles – Seven Pillars of Shame (Self-released) [LOCAL]
The debut album from Piles of Smiles, the duo of Burlington’s Derrick Burt and Brooklyn’s Liam Wynne, is a dirty, fuzzy collection of homespun lo-fi rock tunes. Amid crushing distorted guitars and drums, off-kilter vocals deliver lyrics ranging from abstract imagery to clever slices of life. Fellow local musician Aida O’Brien contributes guitar and songwriting […]
Honey and Soul – Lady King (Joy of Music) [LOCAL]
Local vocal trio Honey and Soul explore a variety of sounds on their debut album, from blues to folk to neo-soul. Their enveloping harmonies and spiritually evocative lyrics linking these potentially disparate elements together into a cohesive whole. Track Picks: 3, 5, 6, 9, 14 FCC: Clean RIYL: Lucius, May Erlewine, Brandi Carlile, Low Lily
Ayden Flanigan – “Friends” and other songs (Flanigan Sound) [LOCAL]
Ayden Flanigan continues to prove himself one of Burlington’s greatest songcrafters on his latest album, which brings a greater sonic diversity to his established brand of twangy lo-fi rock by dabbling in Beatles-esque piano pop, funky wah-wah grooves, retro drum machine beats and more. Track Picks: 2, 3, 6, 9, 10 FCC: Clean RIYL: Wilco, […]
The Clientele- Blue Over Blue
Label: Merge Records RIYL: Cass McCombs, Wilco FCC: Clean Powerful vocals and instrumentals of increasing intensity come together to create this soft-rock dad jam. The Clientele evokes a feeling of nostalgia mixed with surprising twists that come towards the end of the song. Very cool listen!
Angelo de Augustine- Another universe
Label: Asthmatic Kitty RIYL: Ethan Gruska, Bright Eyes, Whitney, Bon Iver FCC: Clean This single from April 2023 is an instant classic indie love song. Reminiscent of 2010 heartbreak anthems, this song is slow, melancholy, and tugs at your heartstrings. Definitely take a listen!
Ffredi Blino – L’ami de Jacques Renard
Label: Shag on a Rock Records RIYL: Matthiew Boogaerts, Orlando Weeks FCC: CLEAN Focus: 2 This 2023 French-electronic-techno-jazz album is an immersive experience that explores new genres and connects cultures. The three songs on this single release all tie together perfectly and tell an interesting story. It’s very upbeat and the instrumentals take over in a […]
Taken By Force – CIVIC (ATO Records)
Release date: February 10, 2023 RIYL: Oneida, Teen Mortgage, Ausmuteants Track picks: 4, 8, 10 FCC: None High-energy driving rock out of Melbourne, Australia that brings a classic punk/krautrock sound. You can hear some Beatles/60s psych-rock influence as well. Cool stuff!
YUSSUS – Dude Safari (Self-released)
Release date: January 27, 2023 RIYL: Pretty Sick, Bad Nerves, Wine Lips Track picks: 2, 3, 6, 10 FCC: 5 Dude Safari’s first full-length release! An energetic blend of indie rock, garage rock, and post-punk featuring driving rhythms and lyrics that explore themes of anxiety and finding meaning in a chaotic world. Perfect for reminiscing […]
Shores of Null – The Loss of Beauty
Label: Spikerot Records Release Date: March 24, 2023 Italian gloom purveyors, Shores of Null, submerges listeners with tempestuous and turbulent riffs. The band continues to hone its sound and take its melancholic dark metal to new heights. The Last Flower is downright catchy, as great leads and haunting vocals provide a focal point that makes for […]
Indigo DeSouza – All of This Will End
label: Saddle Creek Indigo DeSouza’s new album is fast-paced and full of rage and reflections. All of this will end is a nice follow-up to DeSouza’s previous albums and has the same tones. Great listen! RIYL: Samia, Slow Pulp, Wednesday, Lucy Dacus Start With: 4, 5 FCC: 1, 2, 6, 7 (must censor if played)
Laveda- A Place You Grew Up In
Label: Paper Cup Music. Laveda’s newest release is lyrical angst layered over dreamy synths and grunge era guitars. It’s emotionally charged, with nods to the lead singer’s own coming of age experiences. At the same time, the indie-pop tracks are fun and danceable. FCC: 1 Start with: 3, 4, 10 RIYL: Soccer Mommy, Boy Genius
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