Dennis

New album: Dick Texas || All That Fall

Valerie Salerno and the art of the unexpected

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

Ever wondered what Mazzy Star would sound like if Hope Sandoval was backed by an untamed rhythm section that behaved paradoxically? Me neither, but that’s about what you can expect from Dick Texas, the noisy slowcore project of Detroit-based songwriter Valerie Salerno (guitar, vocals), also featuring Jack McKay (guitar, percussion, vocals), Adis Kaltak (bass, mellotron, lapsteel, percussion, vocals), Willy Kipps (drums, percussion), Indira Edwards (viola) and Sree Kota (violin).

Their debut full-length All That Fall contains seven idiosyncratic songs—almost 37 minutes in total—in which dreamy folk pop full of grief seemingly effortlessly blends with experimental dissonance (for example, in opening track Long Dirt Driveway you first hear the clattery lead-up to the oyster being broken open for 2 and a half minutes, only then does the pearl inside reveal itself). It works better than you might expect, as alienating and mysterious as it is—beautiful and intriguing.



All That Fall, produced by Valerie Salerno and Adis Kaltak, is out now digitally and on vinyl LP through Tortilla Flat Recordings.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New EP: The Active Psychos || Triptych

Back to the 60s

By / / Garage Rock, Psych / Leave a Comment

Three of the six Active Psychos who captured our hearts with their Mellow Drama LP at the end of last year, are back with three new original songs, brought together on the Triptych EP. They open the ball with Make Do & Mend, a hip-shaking organ-heavy instrumental, followed by two psychedelic baroque pop tunes, Why? and Wondering. The 1960s still inspire sixty years later.


Triptych is out now digitally (self-released). Featuring Peter Hall (guitar, bass, mellotron, organ, strings, trumpets, vocals), Andy Pickering (piano, organ) and Joe Montague (drums).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Spring Onion || Seated Figure

Catherine Dwyer honors her late father (and his love for Costco)

By / / Indie Pop / Leave a Comment

It’s not often that new music is introduced with an essay, but you should really read Costco is a Holy Place before listening to Spring Onion’s Seated Figure. It gives more meaning to lines like the one from opening track Anger Acceptance: “Where did you go? // I do not know // Are you an angel or an // Icecube melting slow?”

We’re talking about the lo-fi recording project of Philadelphia-based musician Catherine Dwyer, who we know from favorite bands such as Remember Sports and 2nd Grade. She spent six years working on these eleven folky indie pop songs, personal stories set to wobbly music—a compliment in our world—that is somewhat reminiscent of The Vaselines, Beat Happening, and The Clean. It is truly remarkable: this record paints a fascinating portrait, intimate and characterful, that opens up more with every listen.



Seated Figure—written, performed, recorded, and mixed by Catherine Dwyer—is out now digitally, on cassette and vinyl LP, through Anything Bagel. Also featuring Michael Cormier-O’Leary (drums), Julian Fader (drums ), Peter Gill (vocals, pedal steel), Lucas Knapp (synths, piano), Francis Lyons (drums, keys, guitar, sampler), Carmen Perry (vocals, drums), Jon Samuels (guitar, vocals), Santi Slade (mellotron), Jack Washburn (guitar), and Dan Wriggins (vocals) on select tracks.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: The Loft || Everything Changes Everything Stays The Same

Debut LP that delivers on promise, forty years after 'Up The Hill & Down The Slope' EP

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

Mid-80s, British indie pop band The Loft seemed to have a bright future ahead of them—their singles on Creation Records have proven to be quite influential—but splitting up during a gig at the Hammersmith Palais put an abrupt end to a career that had only just begun. And now they’re back!? Forty years older and wiser, the original line up of Pete Astor (vocals, guitar), Andy Strickland (guitar), Bill Prince (bass) and Dave Morgan (drums) has released their full-length debut album after all (the backstory is captured in a short documentary).

The collection of ten brand new songs, aptly titled Everything Changes, Everything Stays The Same, is everything you could hope for. That is: perfect jangle pop tunes with appealing lyrics, tasteful guitar melodies, classy hooks and magnetic vocals, shimmering and irresistible.



Everything Changes Everything Stays The Same—produced by Sean Read—is out now digitally, on CD and vinyl LP, through Tapete Records.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs

New album: Heat Manager || Relaxed American

Nostaligic narratives on Coachella '11, the studio of Elvis' Suspicious Minds, a ‘99 Camry, and much more

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

‘New York Choogle’ trio Heat Manager is the latest project of Jake Rabinbach (guitar), Jake Vest (bass) and Greg Faison (drums), known from bands such as High Time, the Echo Friendly and Tiger High. Their debut full-length Relaxed American is on heavy rotation at Add To Wantlist HQ these days, charming and clever as it is. Moving freely on the playing field between the corner flags of pop, rock, folk and country, they created nine original songs—all hitting the mark—full of laid-back melodies and pop cultural references.

Opening track Palm Springs—almost 7 minutes long; the record closes with a shorter single version—stands out: “Sick and alone backstage at Coachella // Tried to hangout with Best Coast and Cults // Oh well I’ll just look at my phone while I wait for Kanye to play.” It is an appealing reflection by Jake Rabinbach on playing Coachella with Francis and the Lights in 2011, broke and broken. “I saw Neko Case looking for an exit carrying her heels // I was looking for a way out too // I remember thinking ‘I know just how Neko feels’ // And wishing to god that I was back in New York with you.”

It sets the tone for the relatable memories that follow, captured in an effectively orchestrated loose sound with enthralling vocals, stories that I can vividly imagine as the spring sun disappears behind the horizon.



Relaxed American, recorded by Jake Vest, is out now digitally through American Grapefruit. Also featuring Shannon Esper (vocals), Toby Vest (organ) and Miles Robinson (keyboard, acoustic guitar, vocals).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New EP: Greygarden || I Don’t See It Coming

Promising debut from Kansas quartet

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

Greygarden is a new indie rock band from Lawrence, Kansas, featuring Chris Elliott (vocals, rhythm guitar), Ty Q. Harris (lead guitar), Cael Harris (keys), and Henry Parks (drums). They make their debut with the 7-track I Don’t See It Coming EP, that sounds more mature—solid and thoughtful—than you might expect from such young guys. They deliver rootsy duels between piano and guitars (alternately swinging, jangly or subdued), with raw and powerful vocals, guaranteed to bring a smile. The title song that opens the EP is the undisputed highlight here, but the versatile tunes that follow show that the quartet has more up its sleeve.



I Don’t See It Coming is out now digitally via You Serious? Productions.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Mike Clark & the Sugar Sounds || Hot Coffee

A sweet brew from Pueblo, Colorado

By / / Funk & Soul / Leave a Comment

Mike Clark & ​​the Sugar Sounds made quite a splash in 2013 with their debut full-length Round And Round, which was followed up in 2022 by the year-end list-worthy Moon Rock LP. Luckily we didn’t have to wait that long for new work, because after last year’s Live at the Trinidad Lounge they now serve Hot Coffee, their third studio album. We get ten tracks that are more suited to a late night out than for a morning breakfast, but they are certainly invigorating. This is bluesy soul with rock influences, in which sweet but powerful vocals enrich the confident rhythm section. In carefully constructed songs like Diggin’ On You and Electricity, everything is right.



Hot Coffee, recorded and mixed by Cole Halvorsen, is out now digitally (self-released). Featuring Mike Clark (guitar, synth, vocals), Rachael McElhiney (sax, vocals), Robin Chestnut (percussion), and Alex Koshak (drums on select tracks).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New EP: The Rowchess || Pricked But Not Totally Dead

Alive and kicking garage punk from Spain with a ripping saxophone

By / / Garage Rock / Leave a Comment

The Rowchess are a wild rock outfit from Barcelona, ​​Spain, featuring Mateu Marcet (vocals), Lluís Torralbo (guitars), Edu Pons (tenor sax), Dani Llavador (bass) and David Morilla (drums). On their debut EP Pricked But Not Totally Dead, they stomp through six raucous garage punk tunes with heavy riffs, thundering beats and forceful vocals. As if all that wasn’t loud enough, a mean saxophone rips through. Ragged and straight forward, no-bullshit bangers.


Pricked But Not Totally Dead, recorded and mixed by Marc Bòria, is out now digitally (self-released).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New EP: Monster Wave || Curse of Monster Wave

Storytelling without words

By / / Surf Music / Leave a Comment

Asheville, North Carolina-based surf rockers Monster Wave—Casey Willis (lead guitar, bass), Joel Shuman (rhythm guitar), Ryan Grisso (keyboard, bass), and Lee Rubenstein (drums)—take the high standard of their 2023 Pazuzu Luau LP even higher with this new EP. The three instrumentals that make up Curse of Monster Wave excel in original melodies that are refreshing and energetic. However, what really sets these musicians apart, is that they tell gripping stories full of plot twists without using words. As elusive as The Thing From Voodoo Island is, it comes fully to life here.

Curse of Monster Wave, mixed and mastered by Ryan Grisso, is out now digitally (self-released). It’s the first of four EPs that will be released this year.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New EP: The Medium || Sports!

Feel The Dream FTW

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

Nashville indie rock quartet The Medium released their third album last year, entitled City Life (about city life as a call for a better world), which they now follow up with the Sports! EP (about playing team sports, a musical exploration of American boyhood). Opening track Feel The Dream has everything to become a huge hit, from killer hooks and an earworm melody to distinctive vocals and an exciting match report. The other three songs here are also worthy, with lyrics that encourage to think about what this universal theme actually means for people, but this release scores even higher musically—proggy power pop in which a lot happens, like in a good game.



Sports! is out now digitally via Earth Libraries. Featuring Shane Perry (vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, piano, synthesizer), Sam Silva (vocals, bass, electric guitar, didgeridoo) and Jared Hicks (drums), with Tommy Creighton (trumpet) and Peter Brooks (drums) on select tracks.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

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