New album: Super Bummer || Super Bummer

By / / Indie Pop, Indie Rock / Leave a Comment

Super Bummer is a Denver-based indie rock outfit featuring long time friends Keenan Vincent (songwriting, vocals, guitar), Justin Camilli (production, mixing, art, guitar), Thomas Austin (bass) and Nic Turiciano (drums). Previous work dealt with Blushing in the Night, Big Ambition and Futuresickness, but the latest release is a different story.

“The person you have called is not available right now. Please try again later.” The voicemail message that opens their new, self-titled LP is the kick-off to eleven goosebump-inducing songs about losing a parent. The atmospheric, howling guitar melodies and compelling, intense vocals mesmerize, bringing us close to the grieving process. Although the subject carries a great deal of loss and sadness, both the personal lyrics and the melancholic music are rather comforting.



Super Bummer’s S​/​T album is out now digitally through Grouphug.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Stefan Murphy || Hospital Verses

By / / Country & Folk, Indie Pop / Leave a Comment

Hospital Verses may be Stefan Murphy’s debut solo full-length, but by no means we’re dealing with a new kid on the block: the Irish singer-songwriter previously performed and recorded with The Mighty Stef, Count Vaseline and The Sleeveens. That doesn’t make this new album any less majestic though. We’re presented with nine richly orchestrated indie-folk/chamber-pop pieces, in which Murphy’s dark-distinctive vocals are given the stage to shine. A beautiful cover of Alex Chilton’s All We Ever Got From Them Was Pain fits seamlessly between the eight original songs. This is not light fare, but it does add more color to autumn.



Hospital Verses, produced & mixed by James Mechan, is out now digitally, on CD and vinyl LP through Sweet Time. Featuring Stefan Murphy (vocals, guitar, bass, drums, percussion), James Mechan (bass, organ, guitar), Eli Steele (guitar), Coralee Wilson (background vocals), Tim Easton (background vocals) and Evan Walsh (sax).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs || Sweet Time

New EP: Field School || A Familiar Fate

By / / Indie Pop, Jangle Pop / Leave a Comment

“If you need patience, i will give you time
if you need faith, i will give you mine
if you are stuck, i will kick in the door
if you are broken, i will love you more”
(taken from I Think You’re Amazing, Grace)

Generous lad, that Charles Bert (Math & Physics Club and Unlikely Friends) isn’t he? Not just with his words full of love, heartbreak and yearning, but with his music under the Field School moniker as well, a project ignited by pandemic boredom, dread and an abundance of time. The latest EP, Field School’s fourth EP and fifth release in little over 20 months (ICYMI make sure to check that 2022 LP), is another W for Bert. Honestly, I could listen to this guy strum, jangle and chime his guitar all day. Same for that warm and honest voice of his.



A Familiar Fate is out now on Tape via Sm. Craft Advisory.
Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Teenage Hearts || Didn’t Get Invited

By / / Punk / Leave a Comment

Teenage Hearts is a classic power pop name, but the band from Nantes plays a more straightforward mix of late ’70s punk and oi. The band features familiar faces with members of Janitors, Daltonz, Puissance Cube, and Bart and the Brats. On their new LP, Teenage Hearts kick it old school and do so loud and proud. Didn’t Get Invited is out now on three labels: Primator Crew (Nantes), Tough Ain’t Enough (Madrid) and Insurgence (Toronto).




Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs

New album: Al Menne || Freak Accident

By / / Indie Pop / Leave a Comment

You may know Al Menne as the lead singer of the quite popular Seattle-based rock band Great Grandpa, but Freak Accident marks their first official foray as a solo artist. The nine subdued indie pop songs here don’t have to shout to be moving. From the first notes and lines this album hits the spot: “Take it from me, I’m no mystery // I’m not hiding anything, I’m just pausing to think // If you could feel the heat between my words // Well I’ll ask you ’bout it later ’cause I know it’ll hurt.” Dark in theme and light in sound, with wonderful vocals at the forefront. A beautiful intimate debut.



Freak Accident, produced by Christian Lee Hutson and mastered by Greg Obis, is out now digitally and on vinyl LP through Double Double Whammy.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Double Double Whammy

New album: Fuzzy Loom || Mormodrama

By / / Surf Music / Leave a Comment

In everyday life Yasha Trimarchi reviews guitar gear, which comes across as an excellent way to do finger exercises for a greater good. And with success: under the moniker of Fuzzy Loom the Swedish musician releases his energetic debut LP Mormodrama, featuring eleven reverb-laden surf songs. The instrumental guitar music – delightful, sunny melodies – is interspersed with well-found soundscapes, which will make you smile and further enhances the cinematic feel. Original and highly entertaining.



Mormodrama is out now digitally (self-released). Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New single: L​.​A. Mason || Move On Up / I’m In Love With Everything

By / / Garage Rock / Leave a Comment

Columbus, Ohio-based singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Lee Mason was the genius behind garage rock bands Comrade Question and Garbage Greek, but this solo project as L​.​A. Mason is also one to keep an eye on. Together with some of his old bandmates he has now released his debut single Move On Up, along with bonus track I’m In Love With Everything. The former in particular is a great rock ‘n’ roll stomper, with a killer riff and a sing-along chorus that settles into your brain as a new passenger. These are the first tasters from an upcoming album, a collection of songs that have been in the works for over a decade.

L.A. Mason’s two track self-titled digital single, recorded & mixed by Keith Hanlon and mastered by Jon Chinn, is out now digitally (self-released). Featuring Lee Mason (vocals, guitar, bass, piano, percussion), Patrick Koch (bass, percussion), Jason Winner (drums, percussion). The fabulous cover art is by Dawn-Elyse Munro.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: The Subjunctives || Let’s Try This Again

By / / Punk / Leave a Comment

The ashes of Seattle pop punk heroes Sicko proves to be a fertile breeding ground. We loved getting to know The Drolls featuring two thirds of Sicko, and here are The Subjunctives featuring the other third of Sicko (Ean Hernandez) as well as members of Four Lights and Desolate Coast. The Subjunctives sure keep the Sicko spirit alive on their second LP Let’s Try This Again. Not just because they cover Sicko’s Believe, it’s the contagious nature and vibe of the tunes. To be sure, The Subjunctives have created their own distinct sound, but if you are a fan of Sicko you’ll like The Subjunctives’ new LP as well. Full of sweet harmonies and well constructed songs with no wasted space or down time, this is one killer old school pop punk record.

Extra credit to the band for the nods to some well loved bands, like Mr. T Experience (the ba ba ba ba ba ending of I Don’t Have The Time), Black Flag (the Rise Above intro of The Henry Rollins School Of Menacing), J-Church (It’s A Shame We Didn’t Get More Time Lance), as well as brainy punks like Greg Graffin and Milo Auckerman in Smart Punks – “smart punks reading books / writing hooks ergo sum / punk rock doesn’t have to be dumb.”


Let’s Try This Again is out now through Hernandez’s own Top Drawer Records.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Top Drawer

New EP: Shadow Pattern || By Day By Night

By / / Garage Rock, Psych / Leave a Comment

Two years after their debut EP Demonstration, and with two additional band members, Seattle’s Shadow Pattern return with new EP By Day By Night. Olivia Claire (vocals, tambourine), Stetson Curtis (guitar, backing vocals), Kevin Hyde (keys, organs, backing vocals), DKB (bass) and Meesh Boscole (drums) play garage psych decorated with surf, blues and shoegaze influences. The four fresh tracks are wonderfully structured, with exciting twists, surprising hooks and original guitar riffs – it’s hard to choose a favorite, because each one has something unique that makes it outstanding. Musically they all are quite rich and compelling, the hazy, angelic vocals round it out well.



By Day By Night is out now digitally (self-released).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New EP: Robots || El Plan

By / / Indie Pop, Punk / Leave a Comment

Barcelona three-piece Robots have a new EP out called El Plan. The majority of the seven songs on the EP are melodic pop punk, with hints of indie pop as well as garage pop. What these songs have in common is how easy to digest and instantly likeable they are. Fun stuff.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

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