imperfect fifth
valley’s latest single “bass player’s brother” is relatable, heartbreaking, and a real good time
The leadup to alt-pop trio Valley's new album Water The Flowers, Pray For a Garden has been thrilling, culminating in an international tour at the end of September that runs through mid-November. Their new track "Bass Player's Brother" - to be included in the August...
scorpio rising: we are scorpio unleashes a sonic storm with debut anthem
Detroit's rock scene is getting set ablaze! We Are Scorpio, the fierce duo of Jessica Care moore and Steffanie Christi'an, have dropped their latest single "Scorpio" like a meteor crashing into the music world. This song is a battle cry for diversity in rock and a...
care again’s new full-length “sit outside” honors authentic self connection
Portland-based artist Care Again (Brandon Kerrigan) has just released an inspired new album titled Sit Outside. The album consists of 12 songs, all characterized by their eclectic tunes and catchy choruses. Sit Outside is a culmination of ten years' worth of...
indie chamber-rock outfit cloud cult’s latest single is a philosophical masterpiece
Chamber-rock indie band Cloud Cult from St. Cloud, Minnesota has just released their newest song “The Universe Woke Up As You" and it is a philosophical masterpiece. The song consists of Craig Minowa as the band’s lead vocalist and songwriter, Jeremy Harvey on the...
cozy up to our “silky smooth modern soul” playlist
One of the most prominent and influential sounds in American music has been soul. It’s been a mainstay in the hearts of listeners for decades now. Soul has a place in most people’s daily listening, whether it’s classic ballads from the Motown era, 80s R&B from...
the posthumous “wave from the WOOniverse” is a loving tribute to funk titan bernie worrell
Bernie Worrell is one of many unsung heroes in music history. If you’re unfamiliar with him, he was the keyboardist for the legendary Parliament-Funkadelic collective and played with other artists such as Les Claypool of Primus, rapper Mos Def, and even Talking...
the dare’s “perfume” is equally off-putting and delightful
It’s somewhat daunting to review something so intentionally provocative and hedonistic like the music of The Dare, the pseudonym of New York-based musician Harrison Patrick Smith. His work is a revival of the genre “indie sleaze”, a hipster style and subculture that...
kesha comes roaring back to life with the wonderfully campy “joyride”
With it still being peak summer music season, it’s a perfect time for pop-sensation Kesha to put out a song like “Joyride”, her comeback single released this July 4th. Despite Independence Day being known as a quintessential day for pool parties, barbecues, and...
dj sabrina the teenage dj’s new single “in silence” is music you can dance and cry to
As a music journalist (at least, until my internship ends), it’s always a delight to write about something super offbeat. Case in point, a weird and entirely distinct artist like DJ Sabrina the Teenage DJ. The pseudonymous London-based producer has an identity...
bandits on the run bare their souls in haunting new single “you are not a ghost”
In a stirring testament to the power of ancestry and self-discovery, New York indie-folk luminaries Bandits on the Run unveil their most emotionally charged single to date, "You Are Not A Ghost." This haunting anthem explores generational trauma, mental health...
meg elsier’s “spittake” is worth a concentrated listen
Nashville-based singer and songwriter Meg Elsier has released her new album spittake and it is no joke! Recently making her debut in 2023, spittake is an album she describes as an ‘introduction to herself’ as an up-and-coming indie-rock artist. The album consists of...
mike campbell & the dirty knobs’ “vagabonds, virgins, & misfits” is expertly performed nostalgia
Mike Campbell is a classic rock veteran who’s never really gotten his due, at least in the eyes of the public. His musical track record is all over the map, as a founding member of the legendary Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and a collaborator of other household...
masvusi’s i hope you like it balances disco throwbacks and queer coming-of-age
As someone who’s been studying up in the DMV (shout-out George Mason!), I've been slightly aware of MasVusi, an active drag performer in the area. She’s certainly a remarkable figure in both her performances and trans activism, and when I heard she was releasing an...
bootsy collins is still irresistible on “album of the year #1 funkateer”
It’s Bootsy, baby! If you don’t know who Bootsy Collins is, you absolutely need to get the funk out of this site and do your research. (Actually, stay to read the review, then do some listening.) Funk legend, bass player extraordinaire, fashion icon, and outrageous...
cowboys everywhere — all the rhinestones imaginable: cmat in williamsburg
Cowboys everywhere. Boots, hats, shirts, jewelry, all in the loudest colors (and rhinestones) imaginable. Walking into Music Hall of Williamsburg for CMAT’s sold-out performance was like watching the campiest fashion runway from the first row. Hailing from Dunboyne,...
oliver hazard delights a young audience in kansas city
Ohio-bred indie folk outfit Oliver Hazard swooped through Kansas City last night, lighting up the stage at recordBar -- quite literally, with their backdrop and Edison bulbs. The trio brought their melodic magic to a captivated crowd. To note, it was an audience of...
pretty bitter’s “roadkill” explodes with energy and style
I’ll always jump at the chance to review music in my local area, so getting to write about DC-based indie band Pretty Bitter was super exciting. The band, (composed of vocalist Mel Bleker, bassist Miri Tyler, keyboardist Zack Be, guitarist Chris Smith, and drum-ist...
facing the flames and finding strength in letting go with the greeting committee’s “cyclical”
"Is it just me or is it everybody sitting outside with their house on fire?" The Greeting Committee asks in their latest single "Cyclical," released just days before their new album "Everyone's Gone and I Know I'm The Cause". The song doesn't just dip its toes into...