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 […]

C’est La Vie by Phosphorescent Since the release of his breakthrough album, Muchacho, in 2013, the music world anxiously waited to hear what Matthew Houck, the man behind Phosphorescent, would reveal next. He teased something was near, but nothing was shared. Finally this autumn, C’est La Vie was unwrapped. C’est La Vie is a cohesive and effortless album. It is Houck’s solar system, where […]

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 […]

Hell-On by Neko Case Throughout her career, Neko Case has mesmerized long-time fans with her incredible voice and creative storytelling. At times, she’s like a poet, and another moment she’s the greatest fable writer of the past 40 years, painting vivid stories that include sparrows, foxes, and almighty storms. But since Middle Cyclone, Case started to look a lot more […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Evening Machines by Gregory Alan Isakov Gregory Alan Isakov – he of the golden voice and soothing, ambient folk music – was probably a lighthouse in his former life. Nothing else explains how his music cuts through the din of life’s distracting darkness and helps lead listeners to a place of calm. His 2013 album, The Weatherman, is still the […]

Glen Hansard is built a reputation as a hopeless romantic. This isn’t to say his focus is solely on the emotions of the heart, but rather that he finds optimism in even the darkest moments and lessons can be learned even in heartbreak. This explains why fans from as far as Australia and those on both sides of the pond […]

Emma Ruth Rundle‘s last album, Marked for Death, was a sonic and emotional catharsis that continues to tremble walls and souls. It is Rundle’s masterpiece and one of the great records of not just 2016 but this decade. Trying to follow up a generational LP is a challenging endeavor that many before have fallen short, but Rundle matches MfD‘s fervor […]

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 […]

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 […]

Mirage by Sam Valdez Sam Valdez is the human equivalent of time machine. She encapsulates the sonic beauty of the Laurel Canyon neighborhood in the ’70s while creating cinematic soundscapes and poignant stories akin to Angel Olsen, Hope Sandoval, and The War On Drugs. This combination should eventually result in the Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter becoming an indie star. For now, […]

For this final mini-playlist of the year, The Matinee ’18 December 14th edition is memorable. There are blazers and hip-shakers, grueling tunes, and intimate ballads. It’s the perfect eclectic mix that captures how great 2018 was in terms of new music. angelic milk – “acid & coca-cola” (St. Petersburg, Russia)  RIYL: Alice Glass, The Raveonettes, Dream Wife Through her […]

The Matinee ’18 December 13th is filled with light and darkness. Some of the songs will place a spell on you while others will get you up and moving. This is the penultimate mini-playlist of the year, so dive into these nine singles. Be Forest – “BENGALA” (Pesaro, Italy) RIYL: No Joy, Trementina, Swervedriver As the shoegaze world awaits My […]

The Matinee ’18 December 11th – Part 1 has some powerful tunes, clever takes on the world that is, and a sultry affair. It’s, in our humble opinions, the ideal mini-playlist for these wintry days. After you’re finished here, check out Part 2 of The Matinee. Deerhunter– “Element” (Atlanta, USA)  RIYL: Ezra Furman, The Beatles, Plastic Ono Band Most […]

The Matinee ’18 December 11th – Part 2 will make you sing like you’re in a choir, dance like it’s 1999, and contemplate the future. It’s a little wintry and a bit summery, so prepare for all climates on this mini-playlist. Don’t forget to spin the songs in Part 1, which you can find here. Niki Black – “Hallelujah” (Los […]