My Favorite Songs of 2025

Songs! We love songs, don’t we folks? Gotta give it up for songs. 2025 was the year I finally stopped telling myself that I love a lot of genres equally. While I hold plenty of space in my heart for pop, metal and rap, I ultimately connect with far more alternative and punk than anything else. As such, this list is extremely indie-heavy, and if you know some of these songs then you probably know most of them. If not, be prepared to discover a number of alternative gems – with a few other bangers tossed in. I’ve finally faced an issue I’ve thankfully never had come up before – 3 potential songs off of one album in this list. And it happened twice. So please know that both Lucius and Water From Your Eyes had a third song lopped off in favor of diversity.

Also, I want to give a little space to three songs that maybe should’ve made the cut, alongside my runners-up listed below.

1. Despite being one of my absolute favorite artists, I somehow missed that Courtney Barnett dropped two new songs until about early December. “Stay In Your Lane” may have made the list. Ah well.

2. I didn’t listen to Ragana and Drowse’s collaborative metal album Ash Souvenir until late December, so I didn’t get enough time with the opening track “In Eternal Woods, Pts. 1-3” and it may have made the list. Ah well.

3. Spoon’s “Chateau Blues” is one that absolutely would’ve made the list, but I just forgot to add it to the longlist. They don’t need my help anyways. Ah well.

All of that said, here’s 50 songs I truly loved. Ready?

#50. Wunderhorse – “The Rope”

We’re kicking off with, predictably, an indie rock song. This one is different from the next 40 or whatever indie songs plaguing this playlist, though; this sounds like classic rock. The singer’s voice, the production and the way this song slowly builds around a repeated chorus all make it sound like any one from a litany of 70’s bands that had < 3 hits. I’m thinking Steppenwolf, who had a little grit mixed into pop songwriting. It’s nothing revelatory, but I really didn’t hear any other songs like it this year. Play it for your dad!

#49. Ho99o9 – “Escape”

This is probably the most guilty pleasure song on this list. Horrorcore isn’t really good, but Ho99o9 is. This is a dark, heavy song that blends hip-hop and industrial rock. Like a lot of great depressing music, this works wonder with some simple, flat notes. The chorus is both catchy and instantly saddening, you can feel the strong emotions on this one. It’s very interesting and dense, and a lot more creative than it sounds on immediate impact. Not for everyone, but it’s one to let wash over you.

#48. Laveda – “Care”

I didn’t expect this! My first experience was Laveda was seeing them open for Sunflower Bean in the spring. I came away thinking they were…decent, if not disjointed. But I try to fit in any new music that might interest me, so I gave their third album Love, Darla a chance. It’s great! Especially the opening track, a 5+ minute winding odyssey of feedback and 90’s angst. After a prolonged, fuzzy intro, a Hole-like rock song emerges, with singer Ali Genevich’s angry singing of “I DON’T CARE” cutting through the tinnitus-inducing guitars. It’s a thrilling song, and could seat to replace Bully as the band closest to the grunge heyday. It’s like Babes in Toyland are back in the room with us!

#47. Witch Post – “The Wolf”

This one really grew on me. Witch Post is the new duo of established indie artists Alaska Reid and Dylan Fraser, and they’ve produced one damn fine rock song. The rest of the tracks on their debut EP are softer indie, but this one is centered around a crunchy guitar riff and big chorus. It’s old school indie-rock. There’s no wheel reinvention, but it’s an earworm. This one has fluctuated wildly on the list – it originally didn’t make the cut, then rocketed it up to ~20, and now it’s a lock at #47.

#46. Viagra Boys – “You N33d Me”

Often, an artist’s best song is one where they reveal more of themselves, give in to vulnerability and show a human instead of a performance. Then there’s post-punk group Viagra Boys, who are, as the name implies, a deeply unserious band. An album cut from their great release Viagr Aboys [sic], Sebastian Murphy’s always-reliable lyrics are front and center. The song sees him drinking considerably and trying to woo a woman with random facts about WWII. He does go off-course lyrically and start to offer actual fun tidbits. Like a lot of VB songs, it’s a satirical take on masculinity, and it’s a hoot. The crunchy music and spoken lyrics exist in the same space as IDLES, just a much funnier version. We do n33d Viagra Boys.

#45. Tropical Fuck Storm – “Irukandji Syndrome”

Last year’s list saw a surprise entry from Arab Strap, a band I had never really heard and was initially unsure of. TFS aren’t as intense as Arab Strap, but they follow in the same post-punk intensity. This song is driven by intergender vocals, with Gareth Liddiard cementing some solemn, spoken word vocals and Fiona Kitschin and Erica Dunn complementing it with higher pitched bursts of vocal energy. The whole thing sounds ominous, but it’s got an itch to it too. TFS is always trying to do something new, I think they’ve landed on something here.

#44. SPELLLING – “Satisfaction”

This is definitely the most random entry on this list. It’s one of the few songs here that wasn’t a single, and it’s arguably an interlude. It’s also the shortest song on pop-ish singer SPELLLING’s excellent album by a good 30 seconds. But it’s a song designed for me. It starts with a nasally, a capella vocal rhythm that quickly gives way to a rock background. A genuinely good riff guides the song for a bit before it stops dead, giving way to crunchy chords and double drums. The song crosses from pop to rock to metal in barely two minutes. It’s cool!

#43. Laura Stevenson – “#1”

Laura Stevenson is responsible for my all-time favorite song, and I maintain that she has one of the best voices in indie if not all of music. This new record is, unfortunately, even more personal than normal, as it is a divorce album; these songs are among her softest and most vulnerable. She has a way of creating songs that really build operatically, none more so than #1, a raw and delicate ballad that gets big but still sounds very unstable and sheltered. Prettiest voice you’ll ever hear. #43 on the list, #1 in my heart.

#42. Cardinals – “Big Empty Heart”

Cardinals are one of my favorite new bands of the past few years, but they only sometimes invoke their Irish heritage. The indie band lay into it on “Big Empty Heart,” a first taste of an upcoming debut album. The song has dense, draining guitar, all positioned behind some accordion. Musically, it sounds vaguely Irish, and the forlorn tone of the song adds a lot to it. It’s very dreary, but still a joy to listen to. It could easily overstay its welcome, but it’s pretty short.

#41. The Weather Station – “Neon Signs”

I’m finding this one a little difficult to write about because there are other songs on this list that do the same thing as this, even better. The Weather Station are a very warm indie band, and “Neon Signs” mixes a great vocal rhythm with patient music that feels like a nice hug. The sound is full, but never dense – it’s a good mix of catchy and interesting. The song sticks around for a while, with a very prolonged outro that feels like watching someone walk away. It’s a really pleasant indie song.

#40. Deftones – “milk of the madonna”

I mean, it’s Deftones. You either like them or you don’t. The beauty of Deftones is that all of the members share a vision for the band, but they all have different directions on how to get there. This leads Deftones albums to be a litany of ideas, from dense onslaughts of nu-metal, to slow burners, to songs with real riffs. This is the former. “madonna” is an aural assault, nearly as dense as a black metal song. Chino Moreno comes through the fold at times with his own neat vocal rhythm, other times he disappears into the mix. It’s a fascinating little song, and something that only Deftones could make interesting.

#39. Magdalena Bay – “Second Sleep”

Mag Bay lost their minds in 2025. They’ve been riding the highs of their genuinely excellent 2024 smash hit Imaginal Disk, and they spent the last quarter of 2025 quietly releasing an EP’s worth of songs in 2-track batches. They all rock, but this one really stuck out to me. It’s art-pop, with an excellent vocal rhythm and melancholic lyrics. It’s mixed with dense and unpredictable music, in the Mag Bay way. It’s high art, it feels proper, even coming from an indie duo. This is an easy one to get lost in.

#38. The Croaks – “The Ballad of Tenderblood”

I am so entrenched in the local Boston music scene, I’m not sure I can pick a favorite local band – some other nominees will show up later on this list, but it might be The Croaks. Their blend of acoustic indie with, like, Ren Faire melodies and aesthetics is like nothing else out there. They are self-described as “wench rock.” This song is a ton of fun, and features the best vocal performance on any Croaks song to date. It’s a little odyssey with tons of tempo changes, but all done in an unassuming way. I’ve known this one for a while from live shows, it sounds so good on tape!

#37. Austra – “Siren Song”

This was a big year for electro-indie for me. It’s normally not my go-to – and still isn’t – but there are a number of bangers peppering this list. Austra was a late discovery and, if it had had more time to settle in my brain, could’ve ended up higher on this list. “Siren” is a super catchy song that takes familiar elements and makes unique rhythms out of it. This is, simply, a banger. Sometimes the songs on this list aren’t designed for wide audiences. This one should be a chart-topper.

#36. Perennial – “Baby, Are You Abstract?”

Local heroes Perennial have spent 2025 running a victory lap after their excellent 2024 LP Art History broke them into a bigger stratosphere. The deluxe edition of that album features this new one tucked at the very bottom, and it’s their most mod song yet. Like a lot of the best Perennial songs, it’s stupidly simple: two lines repeated over a simple, jangly rhythm, all over in 2 minutes flat. It’s energetic and danceable in a way that only they know how to pull off. Turn the speakers up for this one, it’s some dance-punk madness.

#35. feeble little horse – “This Is Real”

feeble little horse ranked very highly on this list in 2023 with “Steamroller,” a lyrically vulnerable but musically heavy indie rock song that sounded like a leftover from the Dinosaur Jr. days. Their follow-up is a standalone song that, quite frankly, sounds like an entirely different band. The guitars are even heavier, the tender vocals are replaced by screams and there’s some breakbeats thrown in. I’m not sure if this still classifies as alternative. If you’re like me and you just like thrilling, loud songs, this is for you. It follows with the band UNIVERSITY – check my album list – who are doing “indie” music that’s abrasive and unpredictable. More of this trend, please.

#34. Mark Pritchard/Thom Yorke – “This Conversation Is Missing Your Voice”

I don’t know Mark Pritchard, and I’m pretty over Thom Yorke’s wishy-washy non-politics. I didn’t care for their collaborative electro-indie album as much as most critics seemed to. But, no Yorke album is devoid of brilliance, and I found it in “Voice.” To be honest, I mostly love this song because of the hypnotic, instantly engrossing backbeat from Pritchard. I could listen to an instrumental version all day. It’s a simple beat rhythm, but something about it always grabs my attention and sticks in my head for a day. Of course, Yorke’s vocals elevate everything – I consider him the best rock singer in history for a reason. This is one of the catchiest songs of the year; there was a period where I just couldn’t stop listening to it.

#33. Kilbourne – “Loon Call”

I can’t say I listen to much hard techno – not much at all. I don’t really recall how Kilbourne’s album If Not To Give A Fantasy even ended up on my list. But I do like techno like this, and “Loon Call” takes a small idea and makes it brilliant. What is nominally a normal techno song gets enhanced by, well, loon calls. The inclusion of a bird call as a “sample” adds a musically fluid element in the same way a record scratch would. It’s a cool twist, blending the concepts of techno and field music, which are inherently incongruous. I’m not sure if the loon call idea is actually a well-known one and I’m oblivious, but I heard Skrillex use it on his album too – can’t be a coincidence.

#32. Blondshell – “23’s A Baby”

Blondshell is an interesting entry this year, because I was surprisingly disappointed in her sophomore album If You Asked For A Picture, and the album’s best songs were singles that made this list last year. Still, one snuck through. “Baby” is premium Blondshell, a guitar-focused indie rock that doesn’t hide any melancholy. This time, it’s outward, criticizing someone for having a baby at 23. Sure, the lyrics are cringe-y above all else, but the vocal melody sells this. Blondshell manages to rope a great vocal delivery out of a very short line, and smartly repeats it throughout the tune. It’s just a great indie-rock song.

#31. Disiniblud – “Give-upping”

This is a fascinating opening statement. Disiniblud is a new duo that brings together Rachika Nayar and Nina Keith, themselves two experimental artists I was not familiar with. Experimental music isn’t exactly known for warmth, but there’s something uniquely relaxing about this one. Their debut album’s opening track starts soft, with barely anything to grasp on to. A melody slowly forms before a burst of static erupts into a full song. It’s a cathartic piece, and not really like any other song on this list. Give your ears a treat.

#30. Billy Nomates – “The Test”

I’ve always been partial to indie-rock singer Nomates, whose music is always melodious but sometimes endearingly corny. “The Test” is one of her more earnest songs, however, cemented by the combination of introspective lyrics and a one-note synth rhythm that propels the chorus like a soft siren. It’s a very simple song, ultimately, but all of the pieces fit. Her singing voice is always intriguing, and there’s a DIY glory to her songs. This is no different on “The Test,” an earworm despite the minimalist music. Check this one out on headphones, those small synth blips hit well in the back of the brain.

#29. Ela Minus – “BROKEN”

Early in the year, I found myself kind of hard-up for new tunes. I was checking out a number of electronic artists I wouldn’t necessarily have listened to (like Kilbourne!). Ela Minus was on that list, and I fell in love. Minus scratches an itch, with electronic music that straddles the barrier between experimental and conventional. This is a ballad, with haunting vocals and a calm melody mixed with some more engrossing experimental elements. It’s sad, but it’s a pleasure to listen to.

#28. Ada Rook – “RAT KID LIFESTYLE”

If these lists are not obvious enough, I like a lot of maximalist music. Few go more maximalist than Ada Rook, who dabbles in a mixture of industrial, hyperpop and glitch. I don’t think you can really classify this song as anything, her pained screaming also implies metal while the electronic elements imply some EDM. There’s a lot going on at once, if you’re into this sort of thing. You’re probably not, it’s abrasive and overwhelming to a fault. It feels like the coke kicking in off the bathroom sink. I’m a longtime fan of Rook, though, and it’s great she’s still out here delivering us insanity like this.

#27. Lucius – “Gold Rush”

I truly fell in love with three separate Lucius songs this year, and this is the one that initially stuck out to me. It’s the most fun song on their new record, a very playful indie tune with a jangly guitar lick and delightful vocal rhythms. The star of any Lucius song is the vocals, and they are fantastic here – not just melodic but strong. They shake off the fun elements for a stronger chorus, before getting playful again. It’s one of the most well-constructed indie tunes of the year.

#26. Margo Price – “Don’t Let the Bastards Get You Down”

The resilience anthem of 2025. The title is swiped from a 1990 Kris Kristofferson song, itself a statement on how prolonged the battles in America are. But as a standalone song, it isn’t just an optimistic, necessary statement. It’s also a quick, energetic and bouncy country song. This is what Price does best – no-frills, simple earworms. ICE, AI companies, pedo politicians – don’t let the bastards get you down. Don’t worry about keeping the statement in your head, the cadence will get stuck there anyways.

#25. Deep Sea Diver – “What Do I Know”

I’ve just about hit my limit on new, interchangeable indie bands. When my primary source for new music – SiriusXMU – started promoting this band, I thought, “oh, another indie band.” But I was hooked by the end of the song. This is a good, old-fashioned guitar ditty. It’s got riffs, great vocal melodies, and a ton of energy. You can tell that this band is trying to make a statement, and they succeed. This is good ol’ fashioned rock and roll music. Sometimes a song is just big fun!

#24. Alien Boy – “I Broke My World”

The shoegaze revival is alive and well. Alien Boy is a band I was not familiar with before this song crossed by my way, but it appears they’ve been around for a bit. This song has a simply formula, some heavy and forceful guitar and a great chorus about a lost love. It’s heavy and melodic, following in the same footsteps as other revival bands who incorporate shoegaze’s relentless elements with more traditional songwriting. Take away the guitars, and you’ve still god a decent pop song here.

#23. Nourished By Time – “BABY BABY”

Sometimes a song is just hot. Nourished By Time, aka R&B singer Marcus Brown, speeds the BPM way up for this one. I’ve said elsewhere, probably in this post, that I tend to prefer faster, louder songs across genres. Naturally, I took an immediate liking to this one, designed to make people sweat out a pint in a club. Rhythmic and entrancing, this late single is centered around Brown’s rapid-fire vocal delivery and fascinating lyrics. Be prepared to dance.

#22. Mandy, Indiana – “Magazine”

I’m never sure what to do about songs off of upcoming albums. Part of me wants to save them until the following year, as I prefer to think of albums as a whole. But factually, if a song is released in one year, it’s eligible for my list that year only. Anyways, one of my favorite up-and-coming indie bands Mandy, Indiana, have a record coming out in February and the first taste is absolute dynamite. They’re an experimental, somewhat abrasive indie band, and they lean into it here. This fluctuates wildly between melodic meanderings and nerve-shredding bursts of noise. It’s a panic attack in song form, which means I love it wholly. This is a Band To Watch.

#21. Pulp – “Spike Island”

I’m not the most knowledgeable Pulp fan, but I know there’s three elements to the good Pulp songs – a length that stretches into tedious territory, some tongue-in-cheek satirical lyrics and Jarvis Cocker singing like he’s dying of thirst. “Spike Island,” the lead single of the band’s first album in TWENTY-FOUR years, doesn’t really have the satirical lyrics, but it’s got everything else. This song rests solely on Cocker’s vocal performance, which is predictably great. His voice is simultaneously powerful and fractured, like the last gasps of a hero. Although Cocker’s Wikipedia page is suspiciously vague, I’ve calculated him to be 62. He’s still throwing his voice and body around like a man half his age. The band is locked in too, providing a great backdrop, even if it isn’t the most interesting song musically. In an era where kids are revisiting practically every 90’s and 00’s genre, we’ve got the return of two of the biggest Britpop bands. Thankfully, Pulp have new music and thankfully, Oasis do not.

#20. Water From Your Eyes – “Life Signs”

I had trouble getting into the previous Water From Your Eyes album in 2023 when all my pals seemed to rave over it. I still gave the first single off their new record a chance, only to encounter the best guitar bridge of the whole year. This is a truly winding song, jumping from quiet and melodic to classic rock guitar crunch in no time. It’s unpredictable, and it’s all fun throughout. Sometimes, I love being proven wrong.

#19. Babe Rainbow – “What is ashwagandha”

Look, for some of these songs I can go very in-depth on what works and why, and other times there’s little reasoning besides “it’s really fun.” This is the latter. This sunny indie song harkens back to the days of, say, Givers and early Los Campesinos! in the vocal-heavy earworm aspect. It actually sounds close to a SAULT song in the way it balances smooth vocals and patient but existent energy, though it might just be that the singers sound similar. Looking for something fun? Try Babe Rainbow!

#18. Sudan Archives – “MY TYPE”

I was already way on board with Sudan Archives, aka singer and violinist Brittney Denise Parks. Her natural blend of R&B, world and alternative was something up my alley. But her third album – fittingly titled The BPM – adds elements of dance and hyperpop into the mix. The album is a melting pot of big, hyperspeed tunes, and one of the lead singles comes out on top for me. “MY TYPE” is one of the more honest and smooth songs vocally, but coupled with a rhythm that is no less rhythmic and hypnotic. It’s a jam, and I can see it getting equal playtime on R&B radio and in a club at 2am.

#17. mclusky – “unpopular parts of a pig”

It’s not like Andy Falkous has been lurking in the shadows, but god have mclusky not missed a step. The band’s first album in TWENTY-ONE years (!) picks up where the last one left off, championed by “unpopular parts of a pig,” a ferocious bit of post-hardcore with a punk chord progression that predictably does not hit the 2:30 mark. The band is locked the hell in on this one, with Falkous’s sneering sounds as urgent and legit as it did in 2004. He saves room for a little of his signature playful spoken word, too, but only a touch. Every time I listen to this I want to burn my own house down.

#16. Bartees Strange – “Wants Needs”

Listen, this is just a really melodic indie-rock song. Sometimes that’s all it takes. Strange hit new heights on his album Horror, check my final album post for more, it’s an all-timer. The lead single and standout is this mostly straightforward rock song, centered on a great rhythm that brings harmony to vocals and guitar. There’s a lot going on in the background of this song, especially during an extended bridge, but if you stripped it all away except for vocals and guitar, you’d still have a great song. I can see this one working extremely well as an acoustic, one-person ditty.

#15. Wet Leg – “catch these fists”

While I always encourage bands to try new things, it is telling that the best song on Wet Leg’s sophomore record is the one that sounds the most ripped from their debut. A bouncy but rollicking indie tune with fun rhythms and threatening lyrics – this is pure, diluted Wet Leg. The band is adept at making songs with simple, dancey melodies that nevertheless make you feel just a little uneasy.

#14. Hallelujah the Hills/Ezra Furman – “Rebuilding Year”

Hallelujah the Hills released 52 songs this year, but the very best one is because of an Ezra Furman assist. That’s not to discredit the other 51, many of which are brilliant, but Furman’s raw vocals and poetic lyrics rocket this one onto the list. Hills do a mid-00’s indie heyday type of thing, like Illinoise-era Sufjan, and Furman slots in perfectly. Furman sings earnestly from someone going through a rebuilding year. The idea of taking a rebuilding year – which to me, is a sports team spending one season training new upstarts rather than chasing a title – and applying it to a personal life is a brilliant little poetic one. Furman’s apologies in the lyrics sound honest, too, which gives this tune an incredible amount of pathos. This is one of the most emotionally affecting songs on the list so, be prepared.

#13. Car Seat Headrest – “The Catastrophe (Good Luck With That, Man)”

Will Toledo doesn’t necessarily have a “formula” for his band, but there’s one thing he’s always done well – longish to long indie rock songs with excellent rhythms and a real sense of story. The band’s first album in five years was a huge swing-and-miss, because it lacked one of those important elements: rhythm. It’s a concept album that is so heavy on lore that they mostly forgot to write songs. But the lead single is spared, and it’s one of the most thrilling rock songs of the year. It is a story, and it is longish, and it has rhythms for days. This was a sleeper for me, I liked it initially but it kept creeping up on me until I found it persistently getting stuck in my head. This is old school Car Seat Headrest, and there’s no one else doing it like this.

#12. Water From Your Eyes – “Nights in Armor”

This is for sure one of the more maximalist songs on this list. The opening of this greets you with three different things to a point that is almost overwhelming. But quickly the hypnotic guitar lick really takes over and it becomes a jangly indie-rock tune. It’s a supremely unpredictable tune, there’s a quick breakdown before the prodigal riff comes back alone and the song continues to swell around it. There’s barely anything to grasp onto here, and yet I keep finding myself humming the riff all day. After much consideration, I’m declaring this the best tune on the excellent WFYE album.

#11. DARKSIDE – “S.N.C.”

I hadn’t listened to much Darkside before checking out their album this year even though I love their song “Liberty Bell.” The band includes electronic artist Nicolás Jaar, whose work I appreciate from a distance without necessarily enjoying. But I approach most albums with an open mind, and the whole thing floored me. The standout is “S.N.C.,” a song that starts off with a groove but deceptively saves the real funk for the halfway point. It’s airy, but it’s a straight up dance song too. About halfway in, an old school synthesizer funk rhythm erupts, that sounds ripped from – dare I say it – Stevie Wonder. It keeps the pace up for an exhausting couple minutes, too. Try not to dance challenge.

#10. Big Thief – “Incomprehensible”

If Big Thief releases an album, there’s a 100% chance that at least one song will find its way onto this list. The Best Band In Music is back with a set of tunes that are at least comparatively happier than anything else they’ve ever done. It’s still all melancholic, of course, but not as tragic. There are smidges of hope in this song, as Adrianne Lenker takes stock of her life at 33, noting that she’s nothing in the grand scheme of things but also recognizing how many new experiences there are to come. Couple that with some of the liveliest music in their catalog and you’ve got yet another folksy, indie winner.

#9. Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory – “Afterlife”

Similar to Big Thief, any new Sharon Van Etten is a guaranteed lock to be on my list. Her new album is a top 5 on the year (watch this space). Sometimes, her songs come out of the gate as weepers. This one really sneaks up on you. It starts innocently enough and really saves its power for the chorus. It’s all SVE’s vocals. This is a painfully slow song, emotionally tortured. She simply has one of the most gorgeous voices I’ve ever heard, and she’s extremely adept at making incredibly melancholic songs with tragic vocal lines. I could say this is “more of the same,” but is that a bad thing? Try to listen to this one without weeping.

#8. Monobloc – “Line Of Feeling”

What’s with this post-punk revival that’s going on right now? It hasn’t gotten the attention that the shoegaze and nu-metal revivals have gotten, but there’s a ton of great post-punk bands out there right now. Monobloc is a very new one, with only a single EP out so far. The band is from NYC – something I only just found out, as they seem spiritually British. But it also checks out, because they really sound reminiscent of Interpol. This is a simple song, a three-note guitar lick and spoken-sung vocals make up the chorus. But something about it just really engrosses me every time I hear it, the same effect Interpol has. It is music that simultaneously feels emotionally cold while also sounds like a warm blanket wrapping around you. More of this band, please.

#7. The Convenience – “Western Pepsi Cola Town”

I’m a simple man. You put some guitars playing a fun rhythm very fast, and I’ll probably like it. This song sounds a lot like Parquet Courts. This song sounds a lot like Parquet Courts, with a guitar rhythm that’s only three chords, very fast, and very fun. The dual guitar work allows for some good licks to get thrown in too. This is another group I was unfamiliar with prior to 2025, but damn if I couldn’t ever get this one out of my head. Great if you like simple, punchy guitar rock.

#6. Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory – “Idiot Box”

Unsurprisingly, there is a double dose of SVE. For her new album, she collaborated on songwriting with her tourmates for the first time. It shows best on “Idiot Box,” the closest thing to a “rock song” she’s done in a while. Her band is locked in, and it provides a different backing for her powerful vocals, as opposed to the traditional sparse music of her previous albums (and “Afterlife”). Good guitar licks and full drums complement the predictably great vocals. It’s a Sharon Van Etten song, but she takes a bit of a backseat in favor of musical melodies, too. It’s not as feel-bad as some of her other best songs.

#5. Smerz – “Roll the dice”

This song is oozing with coolness. Just listening to this feels like sunglasses and a leather jacket. A simple beat is matched with quiet but intricately spoken vocals in something that borders on hip-hop. Then a loud, jazzy piano line comes in, produced in a way that it dominates over everything else. This little tune is a melting pot, technically indie but effortlessly jazz and rap, too. Quite frankly, it’s too cool to really be indie. And the whole thing is over in two minutes.

#4. nurse joy – “without witness”

It was released in 2025, sure, but I first heard this song when I stumbled on nurse joy in the middle of the day at a festival in Somerville, MA in the summer of 2024. I was floored by the band immediately, and gobbled up their debut album when it was dropped in March. It’s a dance-punk odyssey, centered around a simply guitar rhythm and soothing synth line. But it all builds up to a raucous, screamed finale that has me punching the ceiling. There’s a lot of moving parts in this song, it’s sneakily complex. I’m lucky to have seen them play three more times since I stumbled on them, as the last time I saw them was their final gig. Long live nurse joy.

#3. Porridge Radio – “Don’t Want to Dance”

Is it best to go out on top? I was a very, very big fan of the British post-punk/indie group Porridge Radio, so I was distressed to learn that they would wrap up operations in 2025. It seemed like they were just picking up steam in America, only to bow out. I was happy to catch their first and last ever Boston show in January. They released one final EP in 2025, anchored by “Don’t Want to Dance,” possibly the best song they ever released. It incorporates everything great about the band – downtrodden lyrics that turn into a last-call singalong, coupled with music that feels very off-the-cuff and rough vocals. The band always sounded a little like The Cranberries, here it’s a lot. It would be great any time, but as a final song it sounds particularly haunting.

#2. Lucius – “Old Tape”

Yes, more Lucius. Like a few other songs on this list, this was not the first song on this album to really grab me. But once it did, I realized it’s going to be a personal all-timer. The chorus of this one is just huge, with some of the best vocals of the year and some instantly relatable lyrics. It’s a tune about briefly opening yourself up to playing the ‘old tapes’ from your brain for a loved one before shutting it all back down again. It’s a little bit country, a little bit pop, a little bit rock, a sort of genre-less exploration with some simple ideas done effectively well. Also Fred Armisen is in this video if that’s a thing you’re into, I guess.

#1. Model/Actriz – “Cinderella”

Oh boy. I talked heavily about the first M/A album and at least one song in my year-end coverage in 2023; it remains one of my favorite debut albums of the past few years. Their follow-up saw them shed some of the heavier elements in favor of something that edges on dancey-indie, in the most uncomfortable sense. The lyrics to this song are some of the rawest of any song all year, they are years of therapy sessions reduced to five minutes of music. You can choose to ignore them and enjoy the kinetic, frantic music and just dance to it. Or, you can lean into them, and realize this is what the inside of people’s brains sound like all the time. It’s an intensely personal song, and it sounds extremely cutting-edge. I liked it the first time I heard it, but it quietly crept further and further up this list until it dawned on me one day that it was a #1 lock.

And that’s a wrap on 2025 songs! Check back on this blog in the coming days for my top 100 (!) favorite albums of the year. Many of these acts will be represented, some will not, and some didn’t release an album. I hope every person that reads this discovers at least one song they didn’t know and now like, that makes it all worth it.

As is tradition, here’s a quick list of the songs that didn’t quite make the cut, in no order: ameokama – “izanami” | Yaeji & E Wata – “Pondeggi” | Modern Life Is War – “First Song On The Moon” | Wolf Alice – “Bloom Baby Bloom” | Tiberius – “Redwood” | Ada Rook – “Brackish”

And, since I mentioned it: Lucius – “Final Days” | Water From Your Eyes – “Playing Classics”

101 Favorite Albums of 2024: 101-75

It’s that time of year again. The time of year where I write thousands of words about albums and you skip over it because you’ve already read all the major publications who rush to get their best of lists out by early November. I always like to wait until last minute, because I am but one man and I never clear out my playlists. True to form, this was an incredible year. 2024 was maybe the best year for new music since I’ve begun tracking and reviewing. My list of 2024 albums I still want to listen to sits at 145 entries, and includes albums from established artists I love like Fucked Up, Zeal & Ardor and James Blake that I still haven’t even gotten to.

My final count as of writing (12/27) is 333 albums and EPs from 2024 that I listened to. Pulling a top 100 out of 333 might sound easy, but this year was so stacked that it truly wasn’t. Why am I doing 101? Because #101 is an album from one of my favorite artists and it would be criminal to not include it, and there was one very short EP that I debated cutting – but that also felt criminal (check back tomorrow for #55).

I live in Boston and I’ve been covering the local beat for a few years, but I did a much better job this year keeping up with local releases, and there’s 14 local releases in here (though Clairo and two from The Body are much bigger than the rest). I will always stress checking out your local scene, you may find something extraordinary.

Nearly all of these write-ups are copied directly from other previous posts on this blog. I’m editing them but please keep that in mind in case there’s a nonsensical reference or anything. Enough from me, let’s get going.

#101. Pharmakon – Maggot Mass

Pharmakon is quietly one of my favorite artists, just not one I listen to often – her music is extreme industrial, pushing the sonic territories of noise. Her songs are often expansive, harsh and pulsating, but with hints of melody too, which sets her apart from the goofy pure harsh noise. Lyrically, she sings largely viciously raw songs about skin, bodies and illnesses. Maggot Mass is no different, as every song here is menacing and uncomfortable. This record is missing the one key song of her previous works, which hampers it a bit. No track feels like a standout, they’re all a muddy slog together. But if you’re into extreme music, you can’t do wrong with her catalog.

#100. Wooll – Unwind

One of the best debuts of the year came from Providence’s Wooll, who have given us a remarkably consistent indie record that is far more patient and collaborative than a normal debut record. The band operates as one unit throughout, bouncing intricate guitar rhythms, smooth and dreamy vocals and crisp work from the rhythm section against each other. These are well-worn songs, ones that are never too eager to get the pace going and aren’t afraid to noodle around. These tracks are low-stakes and warm, some small love labors that are just incredibly pleasant. The band teases some shoegaze influences, but never really leaves the realm of agreeable indie. In a rough year, this is just some cozy and enjoyable music. I covered this one for the release, wonderful album from wonderful folks.

#99. Lord Dying – Clandestine Transcendence

Don’t judge a book by its cover, don’t judge a metal subgenre by its band name/album name/album art. I went into this one blind, expecting some good old pounding death metal, but what I got was much more. There’s elements of stoner metal, heavy metal, even hard rock. No two songs are the same, not even close really. This isn’t a recommendation for those close-minded metalheads who only like their ONE style, this is for all the metal freaks. It’s a little too long, and it feels like it’s missing that one key song to really sell it. But, it’s unique and basically every song is fun and original in some way.

#98. Alisa Amador – Multitudes

Just like some other great recent releases, this record blends Latin & American influences well. Amador is a local, another album that I feel has broken containment from the corner I relegate local stuff to. If you’re a fan of NPR’s Tiny Desk shows, then this name may seem familiar; Amador won the contest they ran a few years back. Her debut album, one I’ve been quietly anticipating for a long while, is a delightful and glistening indie-pop romp. Spanish-language ballads and American bedroom pop songs live in harmony, and are often better than anticipated. There’s a number of sneakily excellent songs here, and they’re all unique from each other while still being familiar in concept. Get in on the ground floor here!

#97. Unto Others – Never, Neverland

It’s always interesting to hear a band and think that they’re not making the album they want to make. I normally cringe when a hard-edged band makes a more mainstream push, but here it just makes sense. The first Unto Others album was a mix of goth and metal that sounded ripped from the 80’s. Curiously though, the band sounded more engaged on the goth elements. Their divisive new one strips away some of the metal influence and focuses just on goth, to incredible effect. It’s bold, there’s synthesizer on the first track! There’s still metal songs, but there’s rock songs, some poppier stuff, and a teaspoon of hardcore punk. The central focus is Gabriel Franco’s classically goth vocals, and it all works. Check the title, a reference to Metallica’s unexpected mainstream thrust – this is band unafraid to announce a new direction.

#96. Charly Bliss – Forever

What a gem! Take everything I just said about Unto Others and transpose it here. Charly Bliss’s first two albums cemented the band as a pop-heavy indie group with some punk spirit, in the same realm as the Beths. After a brief break, the band is back – with pure bubblegum pop-rock. This record is the same overproduced, big beat pop that I have lamented elsewhere this year, but it’s used to full effect here. This record is fun as all hell. The best songs are mostly the bangers, and they come early. But the back half has a couple sneakily exceptional ballads, too. This is truly exceptional pop music. For more on this one, check my concert review.

#95. Megan Thee Stallion – MEGAN

I’m historically bad at writing about hip-hop and you developed an opinion on Megan long ago, so this is a throwaway review. Let’s just say, this album solidifies Megan as a star. Even without the shit in her personal life, this would be a bombastic and confident record for the ages. But knowing what’s gone down, it’s downright glorious. It’s sexy, it’s funny and most importantly, it’s freeing. It’s a home run trot of a record. Like nearly every modern rap album, it’s too long – there are not enough different ideas to satisfy the 52 minute runtime. But, there’s a lot of songs that are just fun winners, and what else do you expect from Megan? There’s an extended edition of the album I have not yet heard, which has a tantalizing feature from metal band Spiritbox !

#94. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – Flight b741

I came into this one with a lot of worry – I’m a King Gizz obsessive, one of the Gizzhead cult members, but I’ve never been much into their groovier stuff. I had heard that this one was a spiritual sequel to Fishing For Fishies, the penultimate entry in my ranking of their 26 albums. This was a lot of fun, however. KGLW had a few years where they got a bit lost in the quality v quantity debate, but they’ve now delivered three straight winners – in metal, krautrock and boogie, no less. This album is funky and bluesy, and often very spirited. A lot of Gizz’s lighter albums have been partially or fully improvised, but this album benefits from a locked-in band playing songs they’ve already jammed on before. This won’t go down as one of the best KGLW albums, but it’s one of the better recent ones – and certainly the best of the groove ones. No two Gizz fans will ever fully agree, so you probably don’t feel the same.

#93. Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard And Soft

I really respect the boldness of this record. Eilish’s first two records both had distinct identities, and were wholly separate from each other. Her third seems to intentionally go against this idea, combining elements from her first two dichotomous albums and filtering in new ideas, too. The album opens with “Skinny,” a stripped down and powerful vocal ballad. The second track is “Lunch,” a synth-heavy tongue-in-cheek song that sounds ripped from her first album. This album is clearly one made by and for Eilish, and she throws everything at the wall. While some songs stay within familiar territory, others are unpredictable. After some time, we may agree that “L’Amour de Ma Vie” is her best song yet, a track that starts as a ballad and ends with wild club beats. While I don’t think this album quite stands up to her enigmatic debut album, it’s still a very solid pop release – and a refreshingly bold direction for a star at the top.

#92. Big|Brave – A Chaos of Flowers

Big|Brave are a fascinating trio. They belong to the same circle of extreme metal like The Body and Full of Hell, and they belong to the same circle of Gothic folk like Chelsea Wolfe and Marissa Nadler. They’ve carved out a niche with practically no contemporaries. Flowers is a beautiful album, the songs are as haunting and gorgeous as the band has ever recorded. Every now and then, they remind you that they can get heavy and deeply inaccessible, but often they keep it quiet. Sometimes these songs edge on pure minimalism – the band works to hit both sides of the spectrum, and they do so very successfully. This isn’t a metal album, but it’s an album best appreciated by metal fans. A fascinating record by a fascinating band.

#91. Nilüfer Yanya – My Method Actor

I haven’t heard the British singer’s first two albums, but it appears that her third album is her best so far. It’s tough to imagine something that surpasses this. It’s the melding of indie and pop, but in a wholly different way than the American indie-pop albums that have flooded the year. This is suave, cool and loud – there’s a lot of pumping guitar that disrupts the soulful songwriting. The end result is almost unclassifiable, as if rock and R&B have been jammed together. Her voice is excellent, confident but smooth, and these songs are unique and just fun. I feel that this is a record I’ll be revisiting, as these songs need more attention from me. This is one rocks, folks.

#90. serpentwithfeet – GRIP

I simultaneously went into this one having never really heard the music of serpentwithfeet and still getting exactly what I expected – sultry, beautiful R&B. This exists in the realm of artistic R&B artists like Janelle Monae that make rhythmic, seductive music that nonetheless feels like it eschews any kind of “radio value.” Chalk it up to the homoerotic album cover, maybe, but this is absolutely on the alternative, experimental side of things. Breezy and hypnotic, this is a gem.

#89. Rick Rude – Laverne

A chronic issue with me is that I’ll listen to something I moderately enjoy, but wait so long to grade and/or review it that it leaves my brain entirely. The new album from Rick Rude – no, not the king of the camel clutch – fell victim to my lethargy. I’m glad I revisited it, because I loved it more the second time around. The band seems to tease the audience by inviting in specific, familiar sounds and brush them off just as quickly. They’re not truly emo, but they’ve got the sensitive guitar licks. They’re not really indie, but they’ve got the fuzz. They sometimes rock harder than both genres (especially on the rollicking opener “Wooden Knife”). They’re appealing to anyone who likes shows in basements, be it acoustic guys or punk weirdos. Add in a very effective dual-singer approach, and you’ve got a winning record. Ravishing work.

#88. Friko – Where we’ve been, Where we go from here

I’d been itching to get to this one! I’ve been loving both singles I’ve been hearing on the radio (“Crimson to Chrome” and “Get Numb To It!”). Both songs are guitar-forward bangers ripped from 90’s alt-rock, and with enough maturity and emotion in the rhythms and lyrics to hide the fact that this is a debut. But it is a debut, and these two youngsters seem like they already have a world of travel under their belts. The opener “Where We’ve Been” is a deeply patient ballad, something akin to Interpol’s “Lights” (or many other of their tunes). Truthfully, more than half of the album is slower songs, representing a wide range for a debut. It mostly all works, although there are a few too many down moments across the softer songs. The strength doesn’t lie in just the singles, there’s some other great bangers and a couple very effective ballads. There does need to be just a touch more energy, but it’s an impressive debut nonetheless.

#87. Clairo – Charm

Boston has always been a hub for all things punk and indie, and it only makes sense that the city would claim someone to rule over the current indie-pop movement. A lot of the over-produced, saccharine indie-pop can get repetitive easily, but Clairo’s new one is genuinely beautiful. I wasn’t super into her last album, but this one is full of small, pretty and balanced songs. The production is minimalist, avoiding the trappings of many of Clario’s cohorts. Instead, the focus is on her gorgeous vocals and the threadbare instrumentation. I need to give this one a second listen – the back half was hampered by getting on a train full of inebriated boomers going to a Journey concert and I could earnestly barely hear the album. And yet – it grabbed me fully.

Also, please check out the music video for “Juna.” While I am not in the video, it was clearly filmed before a wrestling event I went to. Most of these wrestlers are local ones that aren’t known outside the area, and now there’s millions of eyes on them. My little wrestling boys are in the stars!

#86. Brittany Howard – What Now

The fun thing about Howard’s debut solo album was the way it expanded well beyond the scope of her band Alabama Shakes. Her sophomore solo release sharpens her broader influences, incorporating elements of blues, punk, R&B, whatever, into an album that’s equally comprehensive but more singular than Jaime. Her vocals are, of course, incredible. That’s always been her strength. But everything works very well across this one. It’s a ton of fun, a winding and unpredictable experience.

#85. Cardinals – Cardinals

Alright, we need to talk about British indie. Amidst the growing group of talk-sing indie punk bands (IDLES, Dry Cleaning, etc), there’s a thread of aggressive, artsy alternative. Bands like Cardinals – who I would liken to Black Country, New Road – feel born from the same womb. Though this is just a short EP, it’s riveting. It’s got that same feel as BC,NR, where it feels both jazzy and cynical despite never straying from alternative. Cardinals are more guitar-focused, but the feel is the same. These are super intriguing songs, and they hit a wide range of emotions in a short amount of time. “Unreal” is a great banger, while “If I Could Make You Care” is a wonderful closing ballad. Get your foot in the door on these guys, I think they’re gonna go places.

#84. Maggie Rogers – Don’t Forget Me

I’m incredibly down with the y’allternative movement. Waxahatchee and Hurray For the Riff Raff have already released great albums this year, and we’re staring down a full release from Orville Peck. I was into the last Maggie Rogers record, but I’ve been waiting for a great one. I think she delivered one here. Some songs work better than others, but the combination of strong but sparse guitar, Maggie’s excellent vocals, and nostalgic tunes about slow American life are designed to win. The best songs here are the melancholic personal ones, the ones that describe real personal experiences done in a Glory Days haze of relatable pining. Some songs get a little too quaint, or a little too individualistic to really grab ahold of. But, as someone who was also once young, many of these hit me in the heart. And Rogers, like many others currently, is expert at diluting these elements of country music and running them through a faint alternative structure. It’s music practically designed for me.

#83. Bark Dog – i’ll eat you, i love you

Whoops, I never wrote a review of this one back when I listened to it. This is a great indie record that I found the old fashioned way – a digital record store. There’s a few great albums I found by simply perusing the “Boston” tag on bandcamp, this one being the best. I know nothing about this artist, but he’s quite prolific. This is some very interesting, very fun lo-fi indie. A lot of smooth synth, grizzled production and healthy guitar. Even in the local scene, this one seems slept on.

#82. Beeef – Somebody’s Favorite

Beeef is one of Boston’s most prized groups right now, and Favorite showcases why. The band plays patient indie, nostalgic tunes about regional memories. The songs are conventionally appealing, but don’t have a forced alignment to radio structures. Some songs barely hit two minutes, some stretch past six. There’s a maturity here well beyond their goofy band name. Beeef has been great for years, and this only elevates them further. Please, check them out. This Beeef has some mustard on it.

#81. Good Looks – Lived Here For A While

I was way behind on reviews when I initially covered this, so let’s be quick – this is a wickedly fun indie album, mostly standard indie but with some threatening shoegaze elements. I think I was just in the right mood for something like this, because it scratched an itch that I didn’t realize I had. There’s a handful of great songs here, and nearly all of them are inherently listenable. Very fun stuff!

#80. MIKE & Tony Seltzer – Pinball

I’m generally not into rap that’s on the more lowkey side, but when it’s as effortless as this is, then it’s undeniable. I’ve never listened to MIKE but I keep seeing his name as a critical darling, and for good reason. Pinball is a masterpiece that doesn’t feel like one; quiet and short tunes that hide their bluntness in plain sight. Only three of the eleven songs are over two minutes, tunes that feel more like daydreams and out-loud musings. There’s a run in the middle of the album that’s just extraordinary. Great lyrics, great beats, great ideas. Real winner here.

#79. Sheer Mag – Playing Favorites

Sometimes you just need some good ol’ rock & roll. I was raised on classic rock and I will always have a deep appreciation for it. I love all of it, but the bluesy hard-rock of ZZ Top, Thin Lizzy, Foghat, etc, is music I particularly like. That’s what Sheer Mag has always done at least somewhat, and they lean way into it here. Good old guitar rock. The song “Eat It And Beat It” – an obvious play on “Hit It And Quit It” – will certainly be the best straightforward rock song I hear this year. It’s fun as hell. The best songs on the album are. There’s a lot of complacency here too, to be fair – a handful of rock songs that don’t really bring the heat and just exist. They prevent this from being an excellent album, but it is still a very good and fun one. In fact, it helps them align even more with classic rock bands – it’s all about the singles.

#78. Les Savy Fav – OUI, LSF

If you can follow the trends across this blog, then it should come as no surprise that I adore this band. I mostly missed them on their original run, only really latching on once I saw a reunion set at Riot Fest on a whim. Their first new album in a real long time is both a continuation and an extension of their sound. LSF have always been comparable to a band you’ll see in a few posts, Pissed Jeans – fun, raucous post-hardcore that’s often fast and heavy but not quite abrasive. Some songs here carry on the tradition – “Guzzle Blood,” “Void Moon” and “Oi! Division” are all old school LSF classics. But there’s more patient and mature tracks, too; a symptom of reuniting. The balance works remarkably well, and the resulting album is one that’s emotionally complete. Even if half of the songs are on the softer side, the band is still melodic, funny, and just a blast to listen to. These guys deserved a bigger spotlight, maybe this time around they’ll get it.

#77. Jane Weaver – Love In Constant Spectacle

You’ll have to forgive me because I’ve fallen way behind in my reviews, and this one won’t be getting the proper unconditional praise that it deserves. Like many albums this year, I tossed this on completely blind. The descriptions of Weaver toss around terms like “experimental” and “free jazz” but this is mostly woman-and-a-guitar music; if that sounds like denigration, it isn’t. I was floored by how beautiful these songs are. They’re minimalistic, a small sound in an open space, and yet captivating. Tons of singer-songwriters over the years have tried to capture the feeling of playing in the same room as the listener, and many would be jealous to do it the way Weaver does on every single song here. The rhythms are so simple yet riveting across the board. Some songs are certainly better than others – but the best ones propel this album into an elite territory. Some really special stuff.

#76. Knoll – As Spoken

Look at the cover of this record – an ominous, black and white photo of a mirror, pointing diagonally away from the camera. It’s unsettling. I put this record on knowing it was metal, but not much more. This is powerful black metal. Abrasive, pounding, sounding like the depths of Hell. What I’m saying is, it’s extremely me music. I love raw black metal. Oddly, this album eschews one of the normal characteristics of black metal – lengthy songs. It’s a genre devoted to wearing you down through both repetition and ferocity, but the band does away with the former. Only four of the album’s eleven tracks are over five minutes, and the rest are all under four. Instead of repetition, the band gives you whiplash transitions. It’s just as effective. Great stuff.

#75. Ducks Ltd. – Harm’s Way

I’ve been hearing lead single “Train Full Of Gasoline” on the radio pretty regularly, a rollicking, fun guitar tune. But with all guitar indie, I approached the album with a little apprehension, as singles are often livelier than the album. Not so! I know next to nothing of this duo, but this is a collection of fast-paced, clean indie-punk. At only 27 minutes, it doesn’t overstay the welcome, honestly could use a little more. While “Train” is one of the more rambunctious tunes, the whole release is just unfiltered fun. Think the song “Money” by The Drums – born of the surf-punk movement of the 2010s, but distinctly indie. Wide appeal on this one I think.

And that’s all for now! Check back in the coming days for 74-1.

Because I can’t help myself, here’s five albums I wanted to include: 070 Shake – Petrichor (gorgeous and haunting R&B-indie hybrid), Sugar Pit – Shh, Don’t Jinx It (rapid fire funk/dance-punk), A Place For Owls – how we dig in the earth (old-school Midwest emo), Heems – VEENA and LAFANDAR (two excellent comeback albums from an indie rap god).

The Rundown: July 2024

Well well well, we’re halfway into the year now. I hope you’re all having a nice year and a summer as equally busy and balanced as I am. The Olympics completely took hold of my media intake for the month, but I still listened to new albums as I commuted, at least. If you’re stumbling onto this, what I’ve been doing this year is monthly posts where I do flash reviews of (nearly) every new release I listen to. I had a week in the middle of the month where I unintentionally listened to a bunch of new releases from big name indie bands, so I balanced it out with a week of nothing but lesser-known artists. As a result, there’s a lot of smaller stuff in this month’s batch, and I really hope you find something that sounds interesting to you. I’ve got 36 flash reviews here, so apologies if this crashes your browser. Next month will be smaller, I’m starting to get burnt out a little.

Covered below is five big name indie groups, some impressive debuts, a handful of operatic metal albums, some excellent local picks, an album that’s going to hurt the tour, and a tribute album that was designed to fail. All that and much more, now half off. Let’s go ->

Maggie Rogers – Don’t Forget Me

I’m incredibly down with the y’allternative movement. Waxahatchee and Hurray For the Riff Raff have already released great albums this year, and we’re staring down a full release from Orville Peck. I was into the last Maggie Rogers record, but I’ve been waiting for a great one. I think she delivered one here. Some songs work better than others, but the combination of strong-yet-sparse guitar, Maggie’s excellent vocals, and nostalgic tunes about slow American life are designed to win. The best songs here are the melancholic personal ones, the ones that describe real personal experiences done in a “Glory Days” haze of relatable pining. Some songs get a little too quaint, or a little too individualistic to really grab ahold of. But, as someone who was also once young, many of these hit me in the heart. And Rogers, like many others currently, is expert at diluting these elements of country music and running them through a faint alternative structure. It’s music practically designed for me.

Grade: 7.5/10 Initial release date: 4/12/24

The Bridge City Sinners – In The Age Of Doubt

Give a quick shoutout to water. A couple years ago I was at Riot Fest in Chicago when I took a break to refill my water at the sole hydration station on festival grounds. Right next door was the smallest stage, where the Bridge City Sinners were playing and readers, I was hooked immediately. Bands shouldn’t still be finding new ways to combine genres, but here we’ve got hardcore bluegrass. The band – and I was already a huge fan by the time the plane wheels touched back down in Boston – sings about heavenly bodies and beasts and mythical creatures, complete with occasional gnarly screaming, all done through acoustic Appalachian instruments. I imagine there’s other bands out there like this, and they’re not far removed from psychobilly, but I don’t know of anything in this alley. Their new album is as great as their previous ones. It’s a high 8, and one I’ll revisit and possibly bump up even more. A serious top 20 contender so far.

Grade: 8/10 Initial release date: 7/12/24

Friko – Where we’ve been, Where we go from here

Grade: 7.5/10 Initial release date: 2/16/24

Mk.gee – Two Star & The Dream Police

This was a frustrating one. I had heard one or two of this guy’s tunes on the radio, and they sounded intriguing. But on the whole, I feel like I didn’t “get” this album. I try to like all music, but I would much rather dislike something than not really get it, because it means I failed to engage with it in the correct way. Mk.gee is a solo artist, making lo-fi indie centered around spacey guitar work. He’s a very talented musician, and his songs indicate a much more experienced and mature artist than his age – just like Friko. I’ve never really heard music like this, even within the realm of lo-fi. I will say, this was a rare example of an album where I enjoyed the back half more than the front. I’m not sure if I just clicked with the style more or whether the songs were more well-developed – I think both. These songs are soft and vulnerable, and often quite catchy. There’s a sultry element here too, these songs are so light and fluid that it’s inherent. There wasn’t enough for me to grab on to, mostly, and I think that was the point. Or maybe I’m just old. This is music for the kids.

Grade: 7/10 Initial release date: 2/9/24

Folterkammer – Weibermacht

Despite its origins in violence, hatred and intentional obscurity, black metal has become somewhat theatrical. Black metal bands are often so serious that it fishhooks back around into being comical. But Folterkammer are smartly leaning into this dynamic, with a record that is pure, operatic black metal. The album wastes no time in showing it, with Andromeda Anarchia’s legitimately operatic vocals belting within seconds of opening track “Anno Domina” starting. I have not heard this band before now, so let me say, I was floored by how powerful her voice is. This group bridges the gap between opera and metal in a way that most bands would performatively shun. This has the aura of Ghost, except Ghost constantly falters in image over music. I kept expecting the music here to get dull or repetitive, but it doesn’t. It’s ripping black metal start to finish. And in case you think this band is too serious – they’re American, but sing in German, and one song title translates to “Kiss My Feet!” It’s only fitting that the record ends with a cover of “Venus In Furs”; I wouldn’t have made the connection, but Velvet Underground are a band equal in their balance of comical performativity and genuinely great music. No, this is no Lou Reed, but it is one of the better metal albums I’ve heard this year.

Grade: 7.5/10 Initial release date: 4/19/24

Couch Slut – You Could Do It Tonight

No, I don’t think JD Vance has heard this band. This is some extremely me stuff. Gnarly, nasty and intense experimental punk. I love stuff like this, and this band delivered. Yet another group that I know nothing about, I believe this was a rare algorithm-delivered gem. The best tracks here are “Couch Slut Lewis,” “Ode To Jimbo” and “Energy Crystals For Healing,” all of which are slamming, midtempo songs with guttural vocals. The latter track is the quickest one on the album, but it’s still slogging. This band is akin to METZ in that they know how to pummel someone while being measured about it. As is always the case with experimental punk, it doesn’t all work. Spoken-word track “The Donkey” is tedious in execution and fairly lame in content, although the story being told does highlight the band’s grimy authenticity. The finale “The Weaversville Home For Boys” is also spoken-word, definitely better because of pounding music but still among the weaker tracks. Still, this album has me wanting to check out more.

Grade: 7.5/10 Initial release date: 4/19

Office Dog – Spiel

Forgot what I said about Couch Slut, algorithms are never your friends, and they’re bound to disappoint in music discovery. After starting to compile lists of songs & albums I’ve liked this year, the spotify algo kept suggesting songs from this album as additions, and the band name got me (as did the related artists). It’s fine, but I wouldn’t place it with many of the bands that the app thinks are similar. This album is a mishmash of indie and post-hardcore stuff. Naturally, I liked the heavier stuff more – namely the absolutely pounding song “Gleam,” which comes to us from the same side of the tracks as Cloud Nothings. One common thread the band uses is prolonged bridges, common in post-hardcore but not really elsewhere. It’s interesting to see the concept transposed to general rock/indie, and it sometimes works. Ultimately, the album is inconsistent in tone (complimentary) and inconsistent in quality (derogatory), with some songs really standing out against others. It’s unique, but it’s hit-and-miss.

Grade: 7/10 Initial release date: 1/26/24

BRICKLAYER – BRICKLAYER

Haha this rocks, what a surprise. Another local winner, and one I’ve stumbled onto while knowing absolutely nothing about the people behind it. This quick little debut (I think?) album comes rife with indie-punk jams, guitar-heavy and fun as can be. The band describes their own music as danceable thrash, which is pretty accurate. It’s not out of league with, say, The Hives. These songs are quick, many of them raucous but clean and bouncy. Can’t wait to hear them on a stage at some point. “Gay Breakfast” is already one of my favorite songs of the year. I rarely actually relisten to albums and I’ve already returned to this one.

Grade: 8/10 Initial release date: 3/1/24

Cage the Elephant – Neon Pill

Yeah, I was scared going into this one. The only reason I knew there was a new CTE album was because it popped up on my Spotify radar, I never heard any singles in advance anywhere. I’ve felt ever since their debut that this band was going to go the way of uninspired adult alternative, so massive props on it taking them this long. The band has navigated around some different influences in the past, from 60’s garage rock to psych-inspired indie, always with a youthful energy. Sadly that energy has finally drained. The songs across this album aren’t bad, really, just bland as all belief. There’s nothing particularly memorable about anything happening here, and what’s worse is that the band feels aware of this. I used to count this band among my favorites (nothing happened, I just don’t listen to them as much these days). Tis a shame.

Grade: 6.5/10 Initial release date: 5/17/24

Justin Timberlake – Everything I Thought It Was

I put this on all ready to write a scathing, mean review but honestly, this album is frustratingly okay. Timberlake’s solo career has been marked by a big-budget arena star allowing himself a bit of left-field elements. This has usually come simply in the form of longer songs, but he’s always found ways to mix up some otherwise rote ideas. For some reason, maybe just age and waning general interest, I figured this would be the dullest album of the year. Some of it is fun! It’s inconsistent from song-to-song, but there’s some old school JT jams in here. There’s some good pop, good R&B, and a handful of songs that stretch out longer just to keep the party going. All of that said, it’s much too much. It’s 18 songs and 77 minutes when it only needs to be half of that. And, there’s plenty of cuttable songs. The album is bogged down in excess, something that Timberlake has made himself all too familiar with in other ways lately. By the time you get to the penultimate track, an alleged victory lap that comically “features” N*SYNC, the album is out of steam. That song should’ve been huge but it’s DOA. That goes for too many of these tunes. It’s far from bad, but it’s easy to see why people have kind of rejected this album. It’s going to hurt the world tour.

Grade: 6.5/10 Initial release date: 3/15/24

Rick Rude – Laverne

Take two! A chronic issue with me is that I’ll listen to something I moderately enjoy, but wait so long to grade and/or review it that it leaves my brain entirely. The new album from Rick Rude – no, not the king of the camel clutch – fell victim to my lethargy. I’m glad I revisited it, because I loved it more the second time around. The band seems to tease the audience by inviting in specific, familiar sounds and brush them off just as quickly. They’re not truly emo, but they’ve got the sensitive guitar licks. They’re not really indie, but they’ve got the fuzz. They sometimes rock harder than both genres (especially on the rollicking opener “Wooden Knife”). They’re appealing to anyone who likes shows in basements, be it acoustic guys or punk weirdos. Add in a very effective dual-singer approach, and you’ve got a winning record. Ravishing work.

Grade: 7.5/10 Initial release date: 2/2/24

Fabiana Palladino – Fabiana Palladino

This was refreshing. Like many recs, I don’t quite remember where this one came from, appearing on my catch-up list one day when I was hazily adding stuff. This isn’t really my normal vibe, but I was with it. Palladino is a throwback pop singer, mixing 80’s aesthetics with the soft 90’s sounds of, say, Enya. It’s an album that’s peaceful and relaxed without ever growing tedious. There’s a lot of ambition here, and every song manages to sound fresh despite the moss-covered influences. I would not call this “retro,” just inspired by the past and updated for the present. Great, lowkey pop for a calm, warm day.

Grade: 7.5/10 Initial release date: 4/5/24

Hiatus Kaiyote – Love Heart Cheat Code

Bear with me, because I fell behind in my reviews and memories are fleeting. I recall checking this band out a number of years ago and finding them to be a quirky, jazzy indie group in the same realm as tune-yards. I’m not sure if that’s true necessarily, especially considering that what I got here was somewhat different. This record is mostly very minimalist and ambient indie, and mostly very pleasant. It’s an enjoyable listen as long as you don’t expect anything too energetic. It is in the same world of moderate experimentation that I had the band placed in my head, just a different kind. It’s unique and very digestible. Oddly, the album kicks into high gear right at the end, finishing off with a trio of songs that suddenly kick up the fuzzy guitar into borderline punk energy. Fun stuff all around though.

Grade: 7/10 Initial release date: 6/28

This Is Lorelei – Box For Buddy, Box For Star

Water From Your Eyes is already a difficult band to classify, so when the singer broke off for a solo album, it was destined to be a mess of influences. The first half reminds me of hip-hop producer Nigo’s 2000 album Ape Sounds, an everything-at-the-wall indie release where the point was making it not cohesive (it also spawned “Freediving,” a top 5 all-time favorite song of mine). Here, the opening song is surprisingly country-fied. The following song is glitch-y, electro-rock, and the next is proper indie. It’s got that unpredictability. The back half of the album is much more straight indie, a lot of singer-songwriter vibes. It feels more like a “song dump,” though the songs are perfectly adequate. In all, it’s a bit too long I think. But if you’re looking for music that’s catchy and peaceful but somewhat messy in a fun way, it’s solid.

Grade: 7/10 Initial release date: 6/14/24

Vince Staples – Dark Times

This album shares much in common with the rapper’s 2021 self-titled album, yet the reasons why I didn’t like that album are why I do like this one. Staples made his name doing bass-heavy, aggressive rap that married huge beats with lyrics that were often shockingly blunt and depressing. But he’s always one for making what he wants to, instead of falling to fan service. Dark Times is much more minimalist, calculated and jazzy. While he explored this side on his self-titled, it was ultimately very repetitive. This album is an unpredictable delight through and through. Vince even directly references that he’s not making another Big Fish Theory. This record is patient and unique, and represents a proper shift in tone while remaining distinctly Vince. Almost definitely going to be one of my favorite rap records of the year.

Grade: 8/10 Initial release date: 5/24

Screaming Females – Clover

Rest in Peace Screaming Females. The final dispatch from the long-running NYC indie rock band was nothing out of the ordinary, a small set of punchy, fuzzy and guitar-focused tunes. That is to say, it’s real good. I was never quite as into this band as I wanted to be, owing maybe to the fact that the one time I got to see them was just an off-day for them (their live show was allegedly raucous, something I did not experience). But I do love some simple rock, and these songs have no illusions to them – fast, melodic and rough. More of the same, sure, but the same never expired.

Grade: 7.5/10 Initial release date: 2/16/24

GUPPY – Something Is Happening…

I went into this one having no clue what to expect, and I’m not quite sure what I got. The opening track is a warm if not tepid ballad, but the rest of the album gives way to post-punk a la Cheekface. In fact, the band even shows up in Spotify’s Cheekface playlists. I didn’t gibe with it at first, but the very comical lyrics won me over quickly. There’s a lot of metrical guitar chords, fun percussion and spoken lyrics. I’ll say exactly for this what I said for Cheekface – you’ll like this if you think Gang Of Four is great but too noisy. This isn’t something I would listen to often, but it’s fun as hell. I liked it more and more as it went on. Best song title of the year: “I’m Fighting a 10 Foot Tall Nancy Pelosi.”

Grade: 7.5/10 Initial release date: 5/17/24

slimdan – Second Dinner

This one slipped in right at the end of the weekly indie countdown I listen to, and something about the individual song chosen grabbed me. The song was acoustic one-man stuff, very off the cuff and storyteller-like, while also titled “Wienerschnitzel.” The rest of the album follows suit – music that’s one man’s life told through song, both honest and comical. Sometimes one song swings fully in one way, but many of them marry the two. Not all of it works, and some of it is just dull, but the good songs are striking. It’s imperfect, but it’s different.

Grade: 7/10 Initial release date: 7/19/24

The Decemberists – As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

I’ve never been on board the Decemberists train, I’ve felt that the criticisms levied at Arcade Fire could be transposed onto them instead; namely, that they seem too snooty and uptight for their own good. But I’ve liked some songs over the years, and I really like this album’s lead single “Burial Ground,” so I gave it a go. It’s mostly solid! This is the definition of a bookend album, where it starts and ends very strong but loses the way in the middle. It’s the first Decemberists album in a while, but the 67-minute runtime is daunting and a bit unnecessary. The two singles – “Burial Ground” and the equally fun “Oh No!” kick the party off, but it declines quickly. The next batch of songs are much more lowkey, sometimes just Colin Meloy and a guitar, and they’re meandering. Maybe it’s me, but if I’m listening to the Decemberists, then I want a big-band affair with lots of unconventional instruments and complex rhythms. The whole middle section of the album is lacking here, and the tunes just don’t quite cut it. Things pick back up with the very fun “America Made Me,” which gives some good momentum to bring them into the finale. “Joan In The Garden” is an unwieldy 19 minutes in length, and uses every second. It follows the format I expected – nineish minutes of standard Decemberists stuff, then a portion of quiet, experimental sound, then a rollicking finale. The end of the song admittedly rips off “Breaking the Law” (!!) in riffage, but whatever, it’s fun to see a normally strung-up band kick it into high gear. It’s a great song and worthy of the runtime. As for the rest of the album? Well, it’s solid, and the bigger fans will have a lot to like.

Grade: 7/10 Initial release date: 6/14/24

Iron & Wine – Light Verse

I’ve mentioned it elsewhere this year about other artists, but Iron & Wine is one of about ~15 legacy indie artists that I’ve always enjoyed hearing, but have just never done a deep dive on. I don’t always appreciate man-and-a-guitar music but this album is rock solid. It’s bolstered mostly by a couple of songs that sole member Samuel Beam knows are great, but the rest of the album cuts are all worthy. The opening track “You Never Know” will go down as one of the prettiest songs of 2024. The collaboration with Fiona Apple (!!) “All In Good Time” is, naturally, brilliant. There’s a couple great tracks on the backside that help the album to chug along. At base level, this is pretty music. A few songs go well beyond that.

Grade: 7.5/10 Initial release date: 4/26

Camera Obscura – Look To The East, Look To The West

Another legacy indie artist, this time it’s one that I have relatively kept up with. Or at least I did during their original run, as this is their first album in eleven long years. It’s utterly fantastic, likely going to be one of the best indie albums in a severely crowded year. These songs are patient, mature and lowkey, and practically every one of them is extraordinary. My three picks are the opener “Liberty Print,” “The Night Lights” and the closing title track, but nearly every song works. Oddly, the only one that struck me as dull was “Big Love,” which seems to be the most popular so far. But, for all the hip parents out there still spinning Yo La Tengo and Hold Steady records, this is another entry for the record cabinet.

Grade: 8/10 Initial release date: 5/3/24

Kerry King – From Hell I Rise

The Slayer break-up was never going to last. No metal band ever truly retires. By the time that Kerry King – Slayer’s lead guitarist throughout their entire tenure – had released his “solo” debut, Slayer had already announced a few reunion gigs. It’s nothing permanent, as King is focusing on a full tour of his own, but it does serve as a metaphor for his “solo” album in general. It’s a great album, it’s just that it’s a Slayer album. It sounds like a Slayer B-sides album, mimicries of and nods to all of the Slayer eras. That’s not a bad thing at all, we’ll all gladly take more Slayer. It does mean that King’s solo music doesn’t have an identity of its own, though, which is a missed opportunity after 40+ years of one band. It does both help and hurt that King is only present on this album through guitars, since he is not a singer; he also isn’t the only guitarist, which feels odd. It only adds to the Slayer vibes, who have always dual-wielded two incredible axemen. A lot of this is hokey, including an especially cringey ‘both sides’ political song. But that’s what you’d expect from Kerry King in 2024. So unsurprisingly, if you like Slayer, you’ll like this, and if you don’t, then you won’t. I do!

Grade: 7.5/10 Initial release date: 5/17/24

Attic – Return Of The Witchfinder

This band owes a lot, and I mean a lot of debt to the always underrated metal group Helloween. Although the gruesome album cover invokes the current wave of death metal, this band is really more aligned with 80’s power metal. The music is mostly fast and heavy but in an inviting manner, and the piercing falsetto vocals from singer Meister Cagliostro soar above the guitars like a phoenix over a fire. The band does tell tales of violent imagery, but the Iron Maidenesque music makes the actual storytelling easy to glance over. This is definitely an exceptional power metal record – ripped from 1985. If you’re into that kind of thing, then make this one a priority. I’ve never been one for power metal, personally, in fact I’m very put off by it. Despite the incredible vocals and intricate music here, I was supremely bored. But power metal is one genre I’ve just never learned to love. If I were writing more serious reviews here, I’d grade this one highly. But speaking only for me, it’s way too much of an okay thing.

Grade: 6/10 Initial release date: 3/24/24

PARTYNEXTDOOR – PARTYNEXTDOOR 4

Now there’s an artist I haven’t kept up with. To be fair, PARTYNEXTDOOR isn’t known as much for his solo music as he is for his collabs and production work. The man made his mark working with Drake, and it continues to show; this feels identical to a Drake album. That is to say, there’s a ton of songs with rudimentary beats and talk-sung lyrics that can really vary in quality. It’s more about vibes, sultry music for the bedroom. I mean, look at the cover. It’s easy to imagine this record getting put on in the mood; one can hope the coitus is not as dry as the music. Most of these songs are so minimalist and low-key that they border on not existing at all. Some songs have genuine heartfelt lyrics, but it’s mostly lifeless music start to finish. One of the most interesting things throughout is a near-silent (and uncredited?) DMX vocal sample that’s used as a beat, which is cool.

I will say this: I listened to most of this on the subway and moved to my laptop for the final four songs, and I got more into them. So I absolutely listened to this in the wrong setting. But if headphones on at a desk is the way to appreciate this, then the vibes still aren’t right, because I’m alone. This is designed for two or more people. Then again, look at the lyrics to “No Chill.” He’s been alone, too.

Grade: 6.5/10 Initial release date: 4/25/24

Washed Out – Notes From A Quiet Life

The guy that did the Portlandia song 15 years ago used generative AI to make a music video for this album. If he’s not going to put any effort into his art, then neither will I. Fuck you.

Grade: 0/10 Initial release date: 6/28/24

Thou – Umbilical

Historically I’m very hit-and-miss on sludge metal, but Thou holds a special place in my heart. The prolific group hasn’t been consistent over the years, but when you release as much music as they have, some of it is going to hit. The worst thing a Thou album can be is boring, and Umbilical is never boring. The band hasn’t really changed their tune – grim opining, screeching, riffs with the thickness and speed of molasses, and morose black and white imagery. But they’re completely checked in, pummeling the listener with relentless guitar and screams, making sure to fill (nearly) every song with unique elements. Hopefully, this won’t get lost in the sea of their other releases. It’ll certainly be one of the best metal albums of the year.

Grade: 8/10 Initial release date: 5/31/24

Cardinals – Cardinals

Grade: 7.5/10 Initial release date: 6/7/24

GUM/Ambrose Kenny-Smith – Ill Times

I don’t know much of anything about GUM but when you put a member of King Gizz on a record, I will listen to that record. To be honest, this just sounded like an off-brand Gizz record, one of the more lowkey ones like Gumboot Soup or Changes. Those records are fun and lighthearted, just some breezy jams. Same goes here. It’s low-stakes indie that floats around some jazzy and alternative influences; mindless summer music, really. This is not a record to return to or elevate much, but it’s fun enough for a listen.

Grade: 7.5/10 Initial release date: 7/19/24

Rusty Mullet – An Album About Home

By this point I’m going to just stop relegating local stuff to shoutouts, because so much of what I’m listening to is better than that. Besides, highlighting smaller acts is the point of all of this, no? Rusty Mullet have been on my radar for a bit, I dug their previous head-scratcher of an album, a whirlwind of indie, funk, rock, and jazz. Home is a little clearer in scope, both a plus and a minus. It’s still an eclectic album – the opening two tracks are almost suspiciously slow and conventional, and then they give way to the punk energy of “4313274.” Outside of that track though, the best songs are actually the somber ones, the opposite of their previous record. It’s a fun mix, and it could’ve used more energy peppered in, but it’s a strong local release. This one deserves more attention. It’s a strong 7.

Grade: 7/10 Initial release date: 6/7/24

Camila Cabello – C,XOXO

I’ve always been partial to Cabello’s solo music, but I haven’t super kept up with her output. This is kind of a confounding album, it’s very much throwing tons of stuff at the wall and seeing what sticks. There’s some great pop songs, a great Latin track, and some fun dance stuff. And some of it really doesn’t work, either. Respect for trying lots of things, this is a rare case where I may award points for something that isn’t great.

But also, Cabello gets overshadowed by her own guests here. She isn’t at her most confident on this record, and bringing in guests like Lil Nas X, Playboy Carti and Drake are missteps, because she gets lost in her own mix. There’s even an interlude that’s just Drake! It’s even credited as solely a Drake song! (Also yes – this came out in the middle of the feud, which is ill-advised). The whole thing wraps up in 32 minutes, which is great. This album would suffer from additional bloat, it already walks a thin wire at 32 minutes. But when this is fun, it is fun. And with an artist like Cabello, that’s the point.

Grade: 7/10 Initial release date: 6/28/24

Dolmen Gate – Gateways of Eternity

If you weren’t aware, the name of Portuguese metal band Dolmen Gate refers to a Magic the Gathering card. I didn’t know that either, and you have to add “band” to the end of the Google search. But it’s helpful context, because the band makes the same kind of epic heavy metal that you’d associate with something like Magic. This is the type of metal that straddles hard rock more than anything – owing a lot to the propulsive but ultimately catchy music of Iron Maiden. It’s not normally the type of metal I prefer (Maiden aside), but I can appreciate something like this. These songs have a ton of energy to them, mostly fun energy and not ferocious. The tunes feel like part of bigger worlds, the album has a grand scope. There’s definitely some crossover appeal for power metal fans here, it has the same structure of being loud and aggressive without making any sacrifices to melody. I didn’t love it, but I did have some fun.

Grade: 7/10 Initial release date: 4/25/24

Johnny Blue Skies – Passage Du Desir

Somebody sound the alarm, we’ve got another Chris Gaines! Well, kind of. Country singer Sturgill Simpson (who I am historically a big fan of) once promised to release five albums under his own name, and no more. I suppose it’s a way of staying fresh, although his previous foray into rock already accomplished that. No matter, long live Johnny Blue Skies. It’s just Sturgill, and he didn’t deliver what I expected. With a new brand, I anticipated (or hoped) for more rock ventures, as it’s some of the finest work he’s done. Instead he went softer, releasing a rambling set of feel-good, carefree country-soul. It’s got elements of outlaw country and even touches of yacht rock, though these songs seem determined to stay a minimum volume. I seem to be alone in thinking that this album is aimless and somewhat boring. Chalk it up to me expecting something totally different; I need to and will give my man another listen. But after a first pass? Call me disappointed.

Grade: 7/10 Initial release date: 7/12/24

Tyla – TYLA

This one came to me via recommendation, and I’m indebted because I loved this. I’m normally hit-and-miss on R&B, but this was pretty much all hit for me. It’s worth noting that I chose to listen to this on an evening where it was very nearly 100 degrees, and this is hot weather music. It expertly blends many different pop music influences, roping afrobeats and R&B into African pop. It’s also very sultry music, as sweaty as this heat-stroked listener was. This has the makings of a third or fourth album from a big-name artist who is priming themselves for an arena tour – not a debut from a hot but still underground artist. It’s an extremely impressive debut, one of the best of the year. She’s gonna be huge in no time.

Grade: 8/10 Initial release date: 3/22

Jelani Aryeh – The Sweater Club

This is just some pleasant indie! Aryeh has been on my radar for a while, and I’ve always liked what I’ve heard. He blends indie with R&B in a way that seems to be quietly getting more popular. It’s music that is inherently catchy, breezy and a bit sultry, and mostly always fun. This record strays closer to the indie side, a collection of fairly rudimentary but entirely effective guitar-based tunes. A wheel isn’t being reinvented, merely rolling full-speed down a hill. This is a thoroughly pleasant indie-pop record that I’ll definitely think I’ll be coming back to.

Grade: 7.5/10 Initial release date: 6/14

Local Natives – But I’ll Wait For You

I’ve always been partial to Local Natives, but not exactly a fan. They’ve had tons of singles I’ve enjoyed, from their debut to now, and I’ve liked some of the albums. But I still approached this one cautiously, as the lead single “April” didn’t hit me. I will never discourage a band from advancing or changing their style, but Local Natives adapting synths is not something I personally wanted to hear. The band’s tender, forest-y indie has always sounded ripped from a different era. Thankfully, most of the album doesn’t actually follow suit, but it is probably their weakest effort. “April” is the liveliest song on the record, as mostly the band sounds disengaged. It’s worked for them in the past, but not here. Many of these songs don’t move out of the starting gate, meandering without any growth. It’s a shame, but sometimes bands can whiff.

Grade: 5.5/10 Initial release date: 4/19/24

Various Artists – Everyone’s Getting Involved: A Tribute to Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense

On paper, this should be something I adore – a diverse group of artists I like getting together to pay homage to the unequivocal best live album of all time, Stop Making Sense. In practice, it doesn’t work. What is imagined as a crossover homage comes off like the antithesis to the album it kneels to. The beauty of Sense is how the sum is better than the parts. What starts as David Byrne with a boombox ends as a cocaine-fueled dance party of a dozen musicians and a full college auditorium, with every song enhancing the previous one. This mix meanders, with some solid songs but absolutely no cohesion, nothing solid to grab on to.

As is always the case with covers, it’s interesting to see how artists interpret songs. There’s no rhyme or reason to which songs work or not. The Linda Lindas and Paramore do thrilling and loyal versions of “Found A Job” and “Burning Down the House,” respectively, and Kevin Abstract does an awesome reimagining of “Once In A Lifetime.” But the National’s safe version of “Heaven” is downright dull, and Miley’s left-field “Psycho Killer” doesn’t work well (and she normally nails rock covers). The low point is the dismal cover of “Life During Wartime” by DJ Tunez. Chicano Batman nail “Cross-eyed and Painless,” and my standards are high; the Stop Making Sense version is one of my favorite songs. It’s “Found A Job” that takes the top prize – recorded by the youngest musicians on the record. Ultimately, it’s a nice tribute, and it floats by on good intentions. But it’s a biopic of an album – pleasant, digestible and acceptable but something that adds little to any conversation. Like a biopic, the problem lies in roteness. It starts making sense.

Grade: 6.5/10 Initial release date: 5/17/24

I hope you’re not as burnt out on reading this as I am on writing it. Truthfully, I got about 95% of the way through the creation of this post and stalled out for two weeks. I am really enjoying this project though. Looking at my list of albums I still need to dig in to, there’s an incredible amount of heavy hitters and I know I won’t get to all of them. Normally I start kicking into a different gear in November but it’s gonna happen early this year (also, I will be on vacation for two weeks and probably won’t listen to anything!).

I hope you find some great stuff throughout this and other posts. While one man’s opinion on a months-old Timberlake album may add nothing to any conversation, it’s fun to write about, say, BRICKLAYER at the same time.

I tend to pick at random, so I can’t say for certain what will be in next month’s batch, but it will include Melvins, King Gizz, some indie girlies, the modern garage rock king, a triple album from a UK dance guy, and a pair of Mikes. See you in September!

Post-Grad Music Reviews

Music Reviews from an overanalyzing junkie. Submissions for LPs and EPs are open! amcnal817@gmail.com

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