Crookedhead–Blink a Few Times
Genre: Alternative Rock, Progressive Rock, Jangle Pop, Post Punk, Heavy Metal, Emo
FFO: Thin Lizzy, The Fucking Champs, hoops
The debut release from Hadley resident Zachary Sawmiller proves that vocal performances and lyricism are not always mandatory to convey powerful emotion through your music.
Performing under the name Crookedhead, Sawmiller wrote, recorded, and played every instrument found within the sick tracks of his debut release Blink a Few Times straight to tape.
This release has proven to be one of the most difficult to pinpoint genres and influences. The stylistic approach is all over the place yet very cohesive and efficient. Some of the clean overdubs may bring Hoops, Diiv, or Mac DeMarco to mind until a fast one is pulled on the listener and thus are bombarded by Thin Lizzy-esque, harmonizing guitar leads.
This record deserves your attention. Please stream below.
Hprizm–Magnetic Memory
Genre: Hip Hop, Rap
FFO: Common, Ghostface Killah, GZA
Formerly known as High Priest, Antipop Consortium member Kyle Austin returns with a sophomore LP under his new stage name Hprizm. From the moment “Keep Pushing” kicks in, it became very clear to me this would be my favorite hip hop album of the year (despite Black Thought‘s debut solo LP dropping around the same time.)
The production shifts from style to style ranging from vintage film sampling, jazzy boom bap, and harsh drony electronics and all manage to fit perfectly with Austin’s flow. Additionally, “Magnetic Memory” contains impressive, eye-opening lyricism and wordplay and serves as a mandatory listen for any fan of hip hop.
Mae–Multisensory Aesthetic Experience
Genre: Indie Pop
FFO: Copeland, Anberlin, Vacationer
For those who did not grow up in the alternate universe full of Christian underground emo bands that I did, mae is a Virginia-based indie pop act with emo tendencies that blew the minds of many youth group kids with their 2005 opus The Everglow. Despite the band’s daring, ambitious pursuits following that record, they seemed to fade away from music and relevancy altogether until now.
The group’s fourth LP (and first in 11 years) expands upon some of the electro pop tendencies found in Singularity, but rather than being the straight forward glossy pop record I expected, has plenty of surprising twists and turns found within the songwriting.
I highly recommend old fans and newcomers alike to give this unique comeback record a spin. Check out the lyric video for the single “Let It Die” below.
Seeing Hands–Seeing Hands
Genre: Indie Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Dream Pop, Jangle Pop
FFO: Turnover, Title Fight, hoops
Hailing from Newcastle, Seeing Hands follows up a catalog solely full of singles with a beautiful self-titled EP well worth the wait.
The UK trio performs a blissfully euphoric batch of tunes blending psychedelic rock and dreamy jangle pop in a beautifully harmonious fashion.
Check out the music video for their single “It’s True” below!