There’s nothing soft about M(h)aol’s second album. Something Soft (Merge) immediately charges into thorny terrain with its opening note. Feminist themes remain at the forefront, like on “DM:AM,” which addresses how men often demand constant availability from women. The Irish band laid a strong foundation with their Gender Studies EP…

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…

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…