WHO: Civic WHAT: Chrome Dipped WHY: It was a grower, for sure, but Chrome Dipped is superior to Taken by Force in catchiness, pounding melodies, clever lyrics yet still retains so much of that surfer rock that made them popular (?). THIS is what I thought I was signing up for. It’s just high quality rock and roll with garage undertones. Of course it wounds a little like the Saints. A straight forward, great, rock record that you can’t help...
WHO: Alex G WHAT: Headlights WHY: No one does lo-fi moody like Alex G. It would be easy-listening, but Headlights is just weird enough and subversive enough to give it an edge. But then there’s a consistent sweetness in all these songs, and nowhere more evident than on Afterlife. His style becomes more singular with each album and Headlights is the obvious progression for him. We should all be excited about what’s coming next. Listen to it...
WHO: The Darkness WHAT: Dreams on Toast WHY: It doesn’t have the kind of bangers you get from their first two albums, but Dreams On Toast grows on you the more you listen to it. Full of clever lyrics and outstandingly catchy choruses, this album pivots slightly to country but is still strongest when it sticks to what the Darkness does best: rock ‘n’ roll. Skip the “members” version which adds several skippable tracks and opt for the standard version...
WHO: Tim Heidecker WHAT: Slipping Away WHY: Sure, you don’t start your album by telling your listener to lower their expectations, and Slipping Away does have some half-cooked ideas at the beginning, but it ends with a rich, compelling and beautiful set of songs that make the rocky start worth it. In the end, this album is a fuzzy and remarkably relatable experience, especially to a dad like me. Yeah, it’s easy listening, but it’s good warm easy listening. Listen...
WHO: Frenzal Rhomb WHAT: The Cup of Pestilence WHY: Frenzal Rhomb seem to make a good album only every other time. It took a while to fully absorb, but for a fan like me, I am relieved that Cup of Pestilence is compiled of just better versions of what this band is known for: harmonies, riffs, and witty lyrics. It’s bizarre how punk rock that’s this fast can also sound so melodic. With 19 songs in just 32 minutes, this...
WHO: Elvis Costello WHAT: The Boy Named If WHY: How on earth does a man still manage to make compelling and interesting music more than 40 years into his career? Well, if anyone was going to do it, it would be Elvis Costello. Though he is a musical chameleon, The Boy Named If focuses on what he does best: straight up rock and roll. And rock he does, as some of these tracks are downright blistering. Add to that some...
WHO: Czarface WHAT: Czarmageddon! WHY: Czarface is on a run of making unfuckwithable records, and I’m not saying that because they’re local boys. I have not heard a Czarface album that wasn’t smart, witty, and full of craftsmanship. Their newest Czarmageddon! is no different. It follows the path you would expect, like tight flow, interesting beats, brevity (as in no-filler), and even throws in some curveballs like the agro punk “Big Em Up.” Hip Hop is alive and well with...
WHO: Steve Gunn WHAT: Other You WHY: I’ve been having a hard time describing Other You, the latest album by Steve Gunn. Every time I play it, it pulls my attention and immerses me in the rich world of its sound. It’s a beautiful world, gentle-sounding, mesmerizing, and full of guitars and layers. It’s Kurt Vile with a lot more Van Morrison thrown in. Other You is the kind of album that somehow works as therapy, making me introspective and...
WHO: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard WHAT: KG / LW WHY: I don’t know if these are meant to be consumed as separate albums, but considering how productive King Gizzard and the Wizard Lizard is, I’m pretty sure this is one album. KG / LW is the best release this band has had in years, combining everything that they do well (psychedelic rock, metal, and prog) into shorter songs following a overarching theme. KG / LW rocks and pulsates...