As a longtime fan, I was thrilled to finally catch Algernon Cadwallader on their reunion tour in Amsterdam last year. They looked like they were having the time of their lives on stage (as was the crowd), and I remember hoping that joy would spill over into new music. Fast-forward to now: Trying Not to Have a Thought is here (out on Saddle Creek), their first LP since 2011, and it’s everything I wished for. More than a “nice to have” addition to the band’s discography, it feels essential.

The original lineup is locked in from the first note, channeling the scrappy, melodic energy that made their early work so vital while adding a sharper sense of clarity. The lyrics wrestle with grief and frustration, yet the music sounds alive and anthemic, buzzing with playful riffs and intuitive chemistry. Political without being heavy-handed, personal without tipping into cliché—this is Algernon Cadwallader at their best: raw, inventive, and brimming with the hooks only they could write.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp