Supergiant by Valley Queen Veteran and established artists dominated the music scene this year. Look at all the “Best Of” or “Favorites” lists, and newcomers barely occupy them. One band, however, was able to crack through this nearly impenetrable wall. It sure helps that Valley Queen‘s debut album, Supergiant, is a contemporary indie-rock classic. The record is highlighted by a […]

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 […]

Whether through their five records or front man Andrew Savage’s foray as a solo artist, Parquet Courts have covered pretty much every ground within the indie-rock spectrum. Their sixth album, Wide Awake!, however, sees the Brooklyn quartet wade through new territory thanks to the deft guidance of Brian Burton – a.k.a. Danger Mouse. There is still plenty of garage-rock and […]

Be the Cowboy by Mitski Whether it is sitting behind the piano, ratcheting a distorted electric guitar, or scratching a synthesizer, Mitski Miyawaki – or simply Mitski – has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to make personal vulnerability sound bold and, thus, something to not fear. As she showed on Puberty 2, she wore it like a badge of honor, revealing […]

May 10, 2018 is a date that many indie music fans will never forget. It is the day we learned that Frightened Rabbit front man Scott Hutchison said goodbye to the world. Unfortunately, we never got the opportunity to say thank you for being the best friend we needed in our most difficult times. He did, however, leave one last […]

2018 has been an incredible year for Lucy Dacus, who earlier this year collaborated with Julien Baker and Phoebe Bridgers under the moniker boygenius to release one of this year’s most incredible EPs. Her own solo album, Historian, is similarly a remarkable feat. The record is not merely a personal account of the 23-year old singer-songwriter’s life, but how the world has […]

The Lamb by Lala Lala Can an album simultaneously charm and devastate? In the case of Lillie Smith and her solo project Lala Lala‘s sophomore album, The Lamb, the answer is an emphatic yes. The record is a multi-dimensional exploration of both the human spirit and music that aims to crush souls. The quiet yet emotionally powerful grunge ballad “Moth” is […]

Kurt Vile released Bottle It In a couple of months ago. Maybe the album name is because it’s been a while since his last solo album (2015’s b’lieve i’m goin… down). It also seems like he has a lot to say yet all without revealing too much. One of the endearing things about Kurt Vile is that it’s almost like […]

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, […]

 Down Under, a little indie band is capturing the brooding brilliance of The National and the cathartic darkness of Joy Division. In the process, they are winning over fans and critics alike. For City Calm Down, recognition and acclaim started with their second EP, 2012’s Movements, and gathered steam following the release of their debut album, 2015’s In a […]

Black Honey – Black Honey (self-released) After releasing a myriad singles, we finally have a proper debut album from the very talented, Brighton-based quartet, Black Honey. Their self-titled debut ranges from spaghetti western-tinged rockers to disco infernos to intimate pop ballads, and each track features a story that belongs on the big screen. Black Honey’s debut album showcases their range […]

In the Basque town of Mungia, a little band led the charge in reigniting a genre that people said was dying. Way back in February, Belako unleashed Render Me Numb, Trivial Violence, which was fifty-one minutes of pure adrenaline. The record featured the band’s unique, cathartic blend of post-punk, indie-rock, krautrock, and electro-rock. Or in other words, they took the best […]

In their brief time as a band, YONAKA have quickly emerged as the voice of a young generation that feels frustrated and disenfranchised. They have assumed the space that Nirvana, Hole, and Rage Against the Machine once occupied. With the backing of a major label and an alt-rock sound that is equivalent to 10 mega-tonnes of TnT, they have the […]

Nightgown by Why Bonnie A few artists and bands released at least two records this year – and one of them surprisingly was not King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard. One band to achieve this feat this year is Austin-based Why Bonnie, which is the project born from the mind of Blair Howerton. Their first EP of 2018 was the […]

Great Thunder by Waxahatchee In the midst of an era where bigger and louder sell more records, Katie Crutchfield’s latest EP under her moniker Waxahatchee is a reminder that one doesn’t need a lot of bells and whistles to provoke and awe. With Great Thunder, the acclaimed singer-songwriter delivers one of the year’s most intimate and emotional records of the […]

Distant Star EP by Spielbergs There are rock records, and then there are rock records. The latter feature a bunch of songs bundled together that make us momentarily lose our shit and once again feel alive. Such records are becoming increasingly rare, but Spielbergs‘ debut EP, Distant Star, is a reminder that rock still rules. Despite being just five songs, the […]

No Violet took their time to release their debut EP, but the time spent honing their sound was worth it. The four-track Faces was released in the autumn, and it grinds like the darker, cooler days. Opener “Be My Friend” starts out like a ballad with front woman Ellie Godwin showing off the delicacies in her trembling voice. The song […]

A Deeper Sea was a nice surprise from Everything Everything. The band released the EP specifically for the first track, “The Mariana” which the band shared “we felt inspired to write a new song dealing with male identity and depression.” The lyrics state “Someone has to be the man”. The track is simple yet profound and adds another reason to […]