Just last September, we were puzzled—in the best way—by the jagged, off-kilter post-punk of Artificial Go’s Hopscotch Fever. Lo-fi clatter, intricately tangled, yet always brushed with a hint of pop. Now, the Ohio-based band follows it up with Musical Chairs (Feel It). A lot has stayed the same, and yet…
Post Punk
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Review: TVOD – Party Time
New York City may be a party capital, but not the kind that hosts neon-clad revelers in blindingly bright rooms. It’s too cool to really lose control, too meta to engage without a knowing shrug. So Party Time (Mothland), the debut album by Brooklyn’s TVOD, might feel like false advertising…
Noise
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Review: mclusky – the world is still here and so are we
In the early 2000s, mclusky burst onto the scene—one of those bands that somehow sounded familiar and yet completely new. They came crashing into an era when noise rock had already faded, but the Welsh trio shredded, screamed, and never gave a damn. They played with words, acted like clowns,…
Rock
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Video: Cory Hanson – Bird on a Swing
Wand frontman Cory Hanson continues his prolific solo streak—his fourth album is already complete and comes bearing a hopeful message in its title: I Love People (Drag City). The Californian artist once again taps into his affinity for cowboy romanticism. “Bird on a Swing” is another lost and touching folk-rock…
Punk
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Compilation: Arse – Complete Arse
Sure, with a name like Arse, the trail leads pretty directly to filthy punk—and that’s exactly where these Australians are rooted. But they bring a twist: hardcore punk with a bit of hip-shaking swagger. Arse first emerged in 2017 with the Primitive Species EP, offering something fresh. It was chaotic…
Psych
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Review: Floral Image – Gone Down Meadowland
The gently trippy vibe of East Coast psych served as the inspiration for Floral Image’s debut album. Shaped on tour and refined in the studio, Gone Down Meadowland (Fuzz Club) is a cohesive piece of work—pure psychedelia, mostly dreamy and playful. Much of the record feels almost hypnotic, lulling the…
Garage Rock
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New EP: DREAMWAVE – Moon Dogs
A fresh and noteworthy band is emerging from Bristol: DREAMWAVE. With influences ranging from The B-52s to Pink Floyd, things already sound intriguing—and their new EP Moon Dogs (Velvet Echoes) genuinely feels like a mix of those inspirations. Still, by the end, we find ourselves somewhere entirely different. It starts…
Metal
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New Song: Zig Zags – Deadbeat At Dawn
Over the past decade, Zig Zags from Los Angeles have gone through several transformations. Currently, founding member Jed Maheu is joined by Sean Hoffman and Jeff Murray—and together, they’ve got a new album ready to go. Deadbeat At Dawn (RidingEasy) is set for release on May 30. The title track,…
Psych Rock
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New EP: HOLY WAVE – Studio 22 Singles and B-Sides
During their 2022 tour, Holy Wave found some time to step into Studio 22 in Los Angeles and work with Tomas Dolas. A few tracks from those sessions have already surfaced, but with Studio 22 Singles and B-Sides (Suicide Squeeze), we now get the full picture. The laid-back psych rockers…
Psych
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Review: MIEN – MIIEN
For the second time, the psych supergroup MIEN has come together for an album. Originally sparked by an idea from Alex Maas and Rishi Dhir, it took a while before anything made it to tape. Their 2018 debut stripped back the rock roots and leaned heavily into electronic elements—and that’s…