Enuff Z’Nuff – Xtra Cherries – Review August 3, 2025 “Heavy Metal” is a melodic rock jam with some odd atmospherics, processed vocals, muscular guitars, and big drums courtesy of Cheap Trick’s Daxx Nielsen.
Superchunk – No Hope – Music Stream July 27, 2025 The song, reminiscent of Guided by Voices at their poppiest and most rocking, shows Mac can still construct a tune.
Teenage Bottlerocket – Post Mortem Depression – Music Stream July 9, 2025 Yes, it’s peppy, quick, and somewhat simplistic, but the vocal and song structure raises it from the quotidian.
Poorlydrawn – Taillights – Music Stream July 6, 2025 Singer Walker Stiglets can’t figure out if he wants to be Julian Casablancas or Stephen Malkmus, so he splits the difference.
Turnstile – Look Out for Me – Music Stream July 2, 2025 While “Look Out for Me” does have its (fleeting) moments of ripping, processed-sounding guitar, this is glossed-up, radio-friendly stuff.
Civil Rats – Get Outta Here! – Review June 28, 2025 Guitarist Molly trades vocals with bassist Dale, and if you close your eyes and lie to yourself a little, the band harmonizes like X.
Daytimer – Lethario – Music Stream June 21, 2025 This song takes me back to big, fuzzy chords and days of discovery when we wore loose-fitting clothes and had long, messy hair.
Tracy Bonham – Jumping Bean – Music Stream June 18, 2025 Bonham has reimagined “Jumping Bean” from 2000’s Down Here. This version is a slow-builder featuring a familiar, menacing guitar line turned up loud.
A Violet in Youth – Desert Roll – Music Stream June 14, 2025 Somewhere between new wave revival, dreamy pop, and danceable beats is where you’ll find A Violet in Youth’s “Desert Roll.”
The Brian Jonestown Massacre – Out of Body – Music Stream June 7, 2025 A mid-tempo pace and jangly guitars in the Byrds and Monkees tradition. It’s psychedelic, and makes for a tidy B-side which, for me, trumps side one.