Offerings by TYPHOON Typhoon’s Offerings was released in January, and nearly 12 months later, it is still one of the year’s finest records. Musically and lyrically, Offerings carries a heft that very few albums can do without feeling overwhelming. In making the record, Typhoon’s creative source Kyle Morton asked himself, “What does a person become if they don’t know where […]

Clean by soccer mommy On her first LP as Soccer Mommy, Nashville singer-songwriter Sophie Allison created a relatable, honest, and fantastic record in Clean. These traits immediately reveal themselves on “Still Clean”, which may set some false expectations as it features just Allison on guitar. After a transition that leads into “Cool”, however, the record gets more dense. Another transition […]

The Pact by SLOTHRUST On their fourth LP, The Pact, Slothrust released what very may well be their best record. Led by human force of nature, vocalist and guitarist Leah Wellbaum, and an incomparable rhythm section of bassist Kyle Bann and drummer Will Gorin, Slothrust created their most diverse album to date. Right from the first track, “Double Down”, anyone […]

The Future and the Past by Natalie Prass Natalie Prass’ The Future and the Past was an album that was highly anticipated when it was released in June. For us, Natalie Prass represents everything there is to love about music. Her first LP was just as easy to dance to as it was to cry to. Since then, she recorded […]

First Flower by Molly Burch It’s tough to follow up an album as captivating as Molly Burch’s debut, Please Be Mine. However, Burch followed it up with yet another masterpiece in First Flower. From her clever lyricism, to the gorgeous instrumentals that can be found throughout the record, Burch created a record that is among the year’s finest. And a […]

Aviary by Julia Holter Julia Holter’s discography is quite diverse. It includes bedroom recordings; gorgeous, huge arrangements; and the unconventional and experimental. One trait, though, is constant – she always crafts amazing and moving music. Aviary is an incredible addition to that discography. From its opening moments of “Turn The Light On”, Holter creates an overwhelming whirlwind of sound that […]

AAARTH by The Joy Formidable The Joy Formidable have been an absolute force of nature since their first LP, The Big Roar. Crunched-up guitars and in-your-face vocals from frontwoman Ritzy Bryan and the hard hitting rhythm section of bassist Rhydian Dafydd and drummer Matt Thomas define the Welsh band’s distinct sound. In 2018, they released perhaps their hardest hitting record […]

Crush Crusher by IAN SWEET Ian Sweet’s Crush Crusher is a heavy record in many ways. From its distorted guitar work to its blunt, personal lyrics, Jillian Medford has created a record with a lot of meaning and feeling behind it. After dropping her bandmates and working on this album solo, Medford found a sound that she likely wouldn’t have […]

Bark Your Head Off, Dog by Hop Along Hop Along may be the best rock band in the game right now. Their 2015 record, Painted Shut, was one of that year’s best, and their 2018 record, Bark Your Head Off, Dog, may be even better. Frontwoman Frances Quinlan’s voice is undeniably powerful, especially backed by her band of Mark Quinlan, […]

Beast on Beast by GABBY’S WORLD Gabrielle Smith’s music has always been personal no matter what her project is named. Even with a fairly long list of contributors – ranging from her usual band of keyboardist/guitarist Oliver Kalb (Bellows), bassist Jack Greenleaf (Sharpless) and drummer Felix Walworth (Told Slant) as well as contributions from Alex Bleeker (Real Estate), Greta Kline […]

Tell Me How You Really Feel by courtney barnett Courtney Barnett is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable rock starts on the planet right now. Between her breakout record, Sometimes I Sit and Think and Sometimes I Just Sit, and her Lotta Sea Lice collaboration with Kurt Vile, she had a big reputation to live up to on her newest […]

Moon 2 by Ava Luna After an uncharacteristically long break between records, Ava Luna unleashed Moon 2 upon us, and it was glorious. It’s funky, captivating, and oh so strange. From Becca Kaufman, Felicia Douglass, and Carlos Hernandez exchanging leads on songs to the impeccable percussion throughout provided by drummer Julian Fader and rock solid bass lines from Ethan Bassford, […]

 Holy Golden have released a lot of great music this year. In February, they released the sublime LP Otherworld and in October they released an amazing EP, Sleepwalkers in the Milky Way. The duo of Leslie Schott and Andrew Valenti have been carefully crafting an image and sound that is distinctively their own, and Sleepwalkers is another peek into […]

 The project of Australian vocalist and bassist Harriette Pillbeam, Hatchie released her first EP, the dreamy Sugar & Spice this year. Laden with jangly guitar, amazing harmonies, and catchy vocals, the record is easily one of our favorite EPs of the year. It carries an intentional, nostalgic vibe that Hatchie describes as recreating the feelings felt falling in love […]

First Aid Kit released their stellar album Ruins in January. While recording, they had to cut a handful of songs from the record, as is all too common. Instead of throwing four of those tunes into the dustbin, Klara and Johanna Söderberg opted to release them as Tender Offerings, and they are some of the prettiest songs the sisters have […]

boygenius by boygenius Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus are undeniably three of the most exciting and talented young singer-songwriters of the decade. When news broke the three were working on a project together, it was impossible to not take note. The result of this collaboration is boygenius, which is undeniably one of the year’s best releases – EP […]

 Following their phenomenal LP, Otherworld, Holy Golden have released an immersive, 7-track EP, Sleepwalkers in the Milky Way. For the uninitiated, Holy Golden is the combo of the ethereal voice of Leslie Schott and the immense, sharp guitar work of Andrew Valenti. They also radiate this carefully-crafted aesthetic between their music, videos, and photographs, and Sleepwalkers in the Milky […]

Over three records, Slothrust have created a sound that is undeniably powerful. From front woman Leah Wellbaum’s witty, relatable lyrics that dabble in the surreal to her killer guitar licks to the most solid rhythm section in music – drummer Will Gorin and bassist Kyle Bann – Slothrust are an absolute force of nature. Since their 2016 record, Everyone Else, […]

Last year, avant-pop outfit Ava Luna made our list of Most Anticipated Albums of 2018. With their back catalog of diverse tracks across multiple LPs, the Brooklyn-based quintet were poised to create something great and boundary pushing. Their latest record, Moon 2, exceeds expectations, and it is one of the year’s most unique and captivating records. Moon 2 starts out with […]

 In 2015, I described Natalie Prass’ self-titled debut as “everything I love about music. It’s music you can dance to, and music you can cry to.” Since then, she’s actually recorded two records, scrapped one, and released her proper sophomore record, The Future and the Past, on June 1st via ATO Records. According to an interview with Consequence of […]