Archive: 2025

Although Black Francis will always be synonymous with the Pixies, too many people often overlook his solo career which took flight immediately after their breakup in the early 90s, which often yielded some delightfully eccentric (not to mention stellar) results. This is particularly true in the case of his first two solo albums (released under […]

Singer-songwriter Valerie June, who began her career as a blues singer, has moved pretty far away from that with her fourth album, Owls, Omens, and Oracles. Call it Americana, but there are heavy tinges of pop and indie, with lighter hints of gospel and neo-soul. Here, she explores the many aspects of love but celebrates the joy of […]

Gerald Clayton’s Ones and Twos is a two-part project; the first installment is revealed here. Clayton calls it an experiment inspired by the art of turntablism where the A side can be played simultaneously with the B side, that moment in the club when the DJ transitions from one song to the next when you […]

By the time Blender hit shelves in October 2000, Collective Soul was already a household name in alt-rock circles. Known for their crunchy guitars, spiritual lyricism, and frontman Ed Roland’s arena-ready vocals, the band had ridden the ’90s wave with confidence. But Blender, their fifth studio album, marked a shinier, more radio-friendly evolution that both […]

Meat Bags are what happens when two Southerners, a northerner and an even more northerner, converge in a gutter in Manchester. Meat Bags are Tom, Harry, Matt, and Scott. They make music for bags of meat like you. They understand what becoming an organic relic left behind in a digital world is like. They are […]

Century Park West is just three friends making music that they enjoy. Based in Miami, Florida, the band has been incubating its creativity since 2019 and is finally ready to share its refreshing brand of post-punk with the world. The band consists of Felix Garcia (vocals, guitar), Ivory Rodriguez (bass, synth), and Josh Nunez (vocals, […]

TURNSTILE have announced details of their eagerly awaited new album NEVER ENOUGH, which is set to arrive on June 6th, marking their first full-length release in four years. Today, the band have also shared the album’s title track, which is available on all streaming platforms and features an official music video directed by the band’s own Brendan Yates […]

All Them Witches has announce their 29-date “House of Mirrors” tour across the EU, UK, and North America.  The band – Ben McLeod (guitarist), Charles Michael Parks, Jr. (bass/vocals), Christian Powers (drums), and Allan Van Cleave (keys) – will perform throughout Europe and the UK in October, hitting cities including London, Paris, Copenhagen, Berlin, and […]

Mac DeMarco has announced a North American, European and UK tour kicking off Friday, August 29th in Los Angeles at The Greek Theatre. The tour includes performances at Franklin Music Hall in Philadelphia, The Lyric in Baltimore, Radio City Music Hall in New York City, Paramount Theatre in Seattle, Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver, and more. After touring Europe and the […]

Missouri​-based folksinger Willi Carlisle has announced his highly anticipated self-produced fourth studio album, Winged Victory, set to release on June 27 via Signature Sounds. The upcoming album sees Carlisle return with his signature blend of traditionally-rooted folk music and kaleidoscope of oddball characters to confer with his core tenets in even more overt and provocative […]

Rather than provide detailed reviews of these never-before-released and/or reissued jazz recordings, we will summarize each in alphabetical order by artist, focusing on 18 titles, including others released close to Record Store Day. This group is a little short on never-before-released material and heavier on reissues. Most of these sets have terrific liner notes, historic […]

There are few figures in jazz whose legacy feels as intimate and enduring as Bill Evans’. His playing, both lyrical and harmonically rich, reshaped the language of the piano trio and left an indelible mark on generations of musicians. Bill Evans always said he was trying to get “farther ahead.” chasing some distant horizon of […]

When thinking about peak-era Pixies or the Pixies in their prime, most fans and critics (including this one) point to their 1989 album Doolittle as representing their best work.  Granted, plenty of people would be fully justified in voting for 1988’s slightly more raw/eccentric Surfer Rosa, or maybe even the somewhat underrated Trompe le Monde […]

From spinning intricate lyrical webs and sonic stories to crafting visual epics for their ever-expanding discography, LA-based music duo J Cru feeds upon their deep love for Hip Hop, unwavering ambition, and comedic chops to share their journey with all who will listen. J Geezy and J Smitty’s roots can be traced back to a […]

The Common is an indie rock duo with an uncommon story. Spanning the Atlantic, the band unites Jimmy Swiss (Boston, USA) and Andy Tasker (Scotland) in a seamless, long-distance collaboration. Despite the miles between them, their music feels intimate and immediate—melding heartfelt storytelling, nostalgic melodies, and modern indie rock energy. Despite being thousands of miles […]

Billy Strings has joined forces with renowned guitarist Bryan Sutton to release their new collaborative album, Live at the Legion. Recorded live on April 7, 2024 at Nashville’s American Legion Post 82, the album showcases the acclaimed duo performing 20 traditional bluegrass and folk songs, including new renditions of Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright,” Doc Watson’s “Way Downtown” and […]

With Record Store Day 2025 right around the corner, indie record shops worldwide are gearing up for the biggest vinyl event of the year. Tula’s Studio Records is no exception. The one-stop-shop record palace strikes a delicate balance between classic records and new releases and offers turntable equipment. Its vast selection showcases its dedication to […]

A family band like no other, Secret Monkey Weekend returns with sparkling sophomore album Lemon Drop Hammer on June 6. Comprising seasoned guitarist/vocalist Jefferson Hart and his stepdaughters Ella (bass/vocals) and Lila Brown-Hart (drums/vocals), the North Carolina trio’s harmony-heavy Beatles/Squeeze songwriting, charming lyricism, and familial chemistry is channeled into 10 tracks helmed by revered REM/Smithereens […]