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 […]

Upstate New York-based singer-songwriter Rick Spataro has his fingerprints over some of our favorite albums over the last few years. From his contributions to Florist to his releases with The Firs, Spataro has a knack for crafting gorgeous, delicate music and bringing melody to life. This July, Spataro will release his first album as Onlyness. The self-titled debut marks a […]

It’s about the time of year where summer anthems pop up. Perhaps, for Lillian Frances, a self-described “sound collager”, the timing of her sophomore EP, Timeism, is perfect. It’s a record full of laid-back vibes, songs that are witty, and undeniably groovy. From its synth goodness to its playful, smart vocals, Timeism may indeed be the soundtrack to many listeners’ […]

As we enter Spring, we’re almost already overwhelmed by breakout albums from young artists. Perhaps one of the strongest debuts so far comes from the UK’s Fickle Friends. Over the last few years, they’ve given us a bunch of infectious, dance-your-ass-off singles. This March, they released their debut full-length record, You Are Someone Else, which features some of those songs […]

It seems like Frankie Cosmos’ Greta Kline has written hundreds of songs from her 52 releases on her Bandcamp, plus her work with other bands including Lexie. On their new Frankie Cosmos record, Vessel, Kline (vocals/guitar), David Maine (bass/vocals), Lauren Martin (keys/vocals), and Luke Pyenson (drummer) package 18 tracks into a half hour. Yes, 18 songs in 30 minutes. Some […]

 Whether he’s playing with Bon Iver or as S. Carey, Sean Carey always manages to create stunning sounds. His second album, 2014’s Range of Light, was one of that year’s most beautiful releases. We’ve been eagerly awaiting his third record, Hundred Acres, ever since, and Carey managed to create something even more gorgeous. While these tracks are all brand […]

Holy Golden’s 2017 EP, The Licking River, was one of our favorite EP’s of the year. Its combination of Leslie Schott’s dreamy vocals, immense guitar licks of Andrew Valenti, and perfectly crafted backing tracks helped the record truly stand out. The Rhode Island band just released their most ambitious record, Otherworld. That’s saying a lot for a duo that carefully […]

Typhoon’s excellent 2013 record White Lighter was a mostly folk affair. There were hints here and there of a breakout from that classification, but on their latest record, Offerings, the Portland, Oregon-based band shed all attempts at being pigeon-holed. The result is a truly epic record that is full of quiet, intimate moments as well as loud, triumphant ones. And […]

Phases by Angel Olsen Angel Olsen is one of the most compelling songwriters and performers in the world. Her lyrics can be heart-wrenching, surreal, or frantic, and her voice always suits her words. Whether it’s her frenetic screaming on “Shut Up Kiss Me” or the brooding “White Fire”, Olsen crafts her music perfectly, which is why it is a bit […]

The long-awaited sophomore album from Memphis, Tennessee’s Julien Baker, Turn Out the Lights was released last week. It was long-awaited because her debut, Sprained Ankle, was one of the best debut records in years. Sprained Ankle was full of heart-wrenching songwriting, from heartbreak to depressive thoughts, Baker’s music hits direct to the heart. It was such a strong release that […]

When I think of laid-back guitar rock, it’s hard to beat Courtney Barnett’s Sometimes I Sit and Think and Sometimes I Just Sit. Unless you’re talking about Kurt Vile’s Wakin’ On a Pretty Daze. Luckily, Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile have joined forces on Lotta Sea Lice, their first record together. The result is an album loaded with wonderful, quirky […]

Florist’s music has always been laid-back, as she paints vivid pictures with her lyrics. Her 2016 record, The Birds Outside Sang, was mostly about a bicycle accident that left Emily Sprague, Florist’s creative force, severely injured.  Sprague relocated to the gorgeous Catskill Mountain region of New York to record a new LP, and that move greatly fits and adds to […]

Mackenzie Scott has evolved quite a bit since her first release as TORRES. Her self-titled debut was full of heart-wrenching songs, mostly her and gently finger-picked guitar front and center. TORRES’ follow-up was a lot louder. Sprinter was rooted in grunge, tons of distortion, with an aggressive tone, and it was one hell of a record. Last week, Scott released […]

The music of Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers is emotional, intimate, witty, and incredibly relatable. It’s easy to see why Ryan Adams produced and released her 2015 EP, Killer, on his record label. It’s also easy to see why Conor Oberst and Julien Baker tapped her to support their tours when hearing her first LP, Stranger in the Alps, which […]

Over the last couple of years, Petal’s Kiley Lotz has become one of my favorite songwriters. Petal’s 2015 LP, Shame, snuck up on me and became one of my most played albums of 2016. Last week, Petal released a short, three-track EP, Comfort. While Shame was loud at times, a full band affair with distortion, Comfort is mostly Lotz by […]

This year’s Hopscotch festival kicks off on Thursday in Raleigh, North Carolina, and it brings one of the year’s best lineups to the table.  There are tons of great artists and bands from around the country, representing the Brooklyn DIY scene, Philly punk scene, and even a headlining show from Solange Knowles. While the big headlining shows by Solange, Big […]

Nicole Atkins has been one of the most consistent sources of great music over the last ten years. Her debut record, Neptune City, was a noir-pop masterpiece, and it was followed by three more great records. On her last LP, Slow Phaser, Atkins freed herself from big label obligation and did it on her own, with a little help from […]

When the name Katie Crutchfield is associated with a record, it’s almost guaranteed to be fantastic. From her work with her sister Allison in PS Eliot to her four albums as Waxahatchee, Katie has been putting out some of the best music of the last seven years. 2015’s Ivy Tripp and 2013’s Cerulean Salt were instantly classics. However, Waxahatchee’s latest […]

Feexer, a one-man-band from Italy released a fantastic five-track EP, Diamonds and Defects in 2014. It blurred the lines between rock and electronic music in a laid-back fashion, and left us intrigued for what would be next. The wait for that is almost over, on July 20th, Feexer will release their first LP, Headed To. Ahead of the release, we […]

Over the last nine years, Northside Festival has grown from a small festival on the north side of Williamsburg to one of the largest music events in North America. It’s more than just music, though. Northside now has two components – Music, featuring over 300 bands this year, and Innovation, which is a blend of tech, marketing, and journalism based […]