Culture Abuse–Bay Dream
Genre: Indie Rock, Alternative Rock
FFO: The Strokes, Interpol, Diamond Youth
San Franciscan quintet, Culture Abuse, returns for a sophomore LP and Epitaph debut. Ironically, the group shed their Punk sound after switching to one of the most well-known Punk labels. Luckily, Bay Dream serves as a beyond worthy successor and pushes the group in a much more suitable direction.
The mood and lyricism of the record paints a very clear portrait that Culture Abuse just wants to have fun. All ten tracks gleam with bright, positive, and upbeat vibes.
‘Tis the season to start blasting your summer anthem. Make it Bay Dream.
Dark Thoughts–At Work
Genre: Punk Rock
FFO: The Ramones, Misfits, Angel Du$t
Philly Punk Rockers Dark Thoughts strike back with a sophomore LP of pure, unhinged, nostalgic punk rock.
At Work does not try to reinvent the wheel, but does succeed in creating a wonderful return to form for catchy, abrasive Punk Rock that could have easily landed a spot on the Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 soundtrack had it been released in that era.
Deep Cuts–Slip Off in the Dark
Genre: Synth Pop, Jazz
FFO: Depeche Mode, Tears for Fears, Yellow House
Self-described as “Houston’s most beautiful boy band,” Deep Cuts provides listeners with a very relaxed combination of ‘80’s worshiping synth pop delicately mixed with jazzy instrumentation.
Whether you want to groove out or have your heart melted by the band’s heart-wrenching ballads, Slip Off in the Dark is a fantastic new addition to the band’s catalog that has you covered.
dumb-“Seeing Green”
Genre: Indie Rock, Post Punk, Art Punk
FFO: The Clash, Wire, Parquet Courts
The Canadian post punkers known as dumb share a new LP brimming with color. Seeing Green is a sonic poster child for the striking juxtaposition of the blueprint Post Punk. A large majority of the recent releases within the genre I have discussed tend to lean towards darker tendencies embracing gothic influences taking leads from Joy Division.
dumb illustrates to listeners just how bright and energetic Post Punk can still be. The album encompasses themes of personal growth and insecurities while sonically taking cues from Wire or The Clash with its upbeat, mostly clean rhythm section and half-spoken, shouted vocals.
Floating Room–False Baptism
Genre: Indie Pop, Dream Pop, Art Rock, Noise Rock
FFO: Pity Sex, Alvvays, Japanese Breakfast
Portland, Oregon based rock outfit Floating Room present a sophomore LP full of emotional twists and turns and guitar work that contrasts between clean euphoric dubs and noisy, powerful distortion.
This former bedroom project recently transformed into an old church project (the group literally recorded this record utilizing the acoustics of an old church building) giving False Baptism a more full sound than previous releases.
Hana Vu–How Many Times Have You Driven By
Genre: Indie Pop, Dream Pop
FFO: Local Natives, Japanese Breakfast, Alvvays
The latest album from LA-based indie pop artist Hana Vu provides lush, pleasant soundscapes to match its mentally pleasing artwork.
The 17-Year-old crafts alluring instrumentation to comfortably match her angelic vocal performance with track after track of powerfully written pop tunes that manage to be both mesmerizing and catchy.
The overall sound reminds me of the sophomore album Local Natives titled Hummingbird with a sound also comparable to the hypnotic sounds of Alvvays.
Modern Rituals–The Light That Leaks In
Genre: Alternative Rock, Stoner Rock, Emo
FFO: Title Fight, Cloakroom, Solids
UK altrock ensemble, Modern Rituals, unveil a fun debut LP with bright, colorful, and powerful-sounding anthems.
Stylistically, Title Fight’s Floral Green may come to mind as each one conveys a sense of emo tinted rock tunes with thick, massive instrumentation.
The thickness reaches a point of pure sludgey goodness similar to that of Cloakroom coupled with an emotional vocal performance that tends to burst in pure aggression as the tracks reach their respected crescendos.
Self Defense Family–Have You Considered Punk Music
Genre: Post Hardcore, Indie Rock, Experimental Rock, Post Punk
FFO: Brand New, Interpol, Tigers Jaw
With members sprawled across the globe and releases being fired out what seems like every other month, it is puzzling Self Defense Family is as criminally underrated as they are despite sharing a label with acts such as Tigers Jaw, Basement, Citizen, and the like.
Not only that, but the group’s sound is truly unique and cannot be pigeonholed to a single genre. Dark, introspective lyrics and soundscapes encompass this experimental package. Fragments of Post Punk, Alt Country, Post Hardcore, and various other genres peak their heads in and out of each of these tracks to flow with the mood and subject matter.
Stream Have You Considered Punk Music below.
So Stressed–Pale Lemon
Genre: Indie Pop, Jangle Pop
FFO: Death Cab for Cutie, Pavement, Pinback
Fans of the Sacramento-based trio known as So Stressed are probably extremely puzzled at my genre description and for fans of for this release. Don’t get too stressed because despite the group’s blatant sound shift, Pale Lemon is an incredible record that works really well.
The California-based three piece has grown up and the only thing that seems to not work about this release is the band’s name because it is quite a relaxing, melancholic experience. So Stressed pulls from early 2000s melodic indie pop influences akin to the tranquil sounds of early Death Cab and Pinback with the occasional complexities of Pavement’s take on Indie Rock.
Give Pale Lemon a spin below!
Them Are Us Too-Amends
Genre: Dream Pop, Goth Rock, New Wave
FFO: The Cure, Cocteau Twins, Lush
2015’s Remain illustrated a truly captivated blend of modernism and nostalgia for the Dream Pop/Goth Rock genre provided by two young musicians from California with infinite potential, promise, and an uncanny ability to take a shot at a style that had its popularity peak around the time they were born and craft a masterpiece worthy of its influences.
Unfortunately, Cash Askew (one of the two artists) passed away tragically in the Ghost Ship fire in Oakland back in 2016, leaving behind a few unfinished songs that never saw the light of day. Until now.
Surviving member, Kennedy Ashlyn, proudly resuscitates these previously unfinished tracks in a heartbreaking, haunting farewell EP titled Amends.
Send Them Are Us Too off the right way and stream below.
Vacationer–Mindset
Genre: Indie Pop, Psychedelic Pop, Electronic
FFO: The Starting Line, The Avalanches, Person L
I am pleased to announce I am appropriately penning this album description while on vacation, and this record has helped me achieve cloud nine.
Mindset is the latest effort from Starting Line frontman Kenny Vasoli that crafts tropical sounding, orchestral production similar to that of the Avalanches with upbeat, electronic pop tracks that are guaranteed to make you feel like you are dancing on a beach.