Campdogzz–In Rounds
Genre: Indie Rock
FFO: Angel Olsen, Local Natives, Japanese Breakfast
Indie rock collective Campdogzz offer listeners a sophomore effort of pure bliss.
While the quintet is primarily based in Chicago, frontwoman Jess Price allows her Oklahoma heritage to bleed into the lyricism. In Rounds boasts euphoric, emotionally-charged indie rock soundscapes with just the right about of folk influence.
Choker–Honeybloom
Genre: R&B, Hip Hop
FFO: Frank Ocean, dvsn, FKA Twigs
22-year-old Michigan-based artist, Choker, re-emerges with a self-produced sophomore LP guaranteed to win over fans of Frank OceanĀ or any modern artist channeling R&B. Honeybloom showcases a vast improvement of Choker’s experimental approach towards lyricism, vocal performance, and production.
The beats found throughout the album’s 14-song track listing evoke a sense of dreamy euphoria very similar to that of Blonde but tends to prioritize atmosphere and ambiance over catchy hooks.
Delta Sleep–Ghost City
Genre: Indie Rock, Math Rock, Progressive Rock
FFO: Minus the Bear, Great Big of Leaves, TTNG
UK math rock collective Delta Sleep makes noticeable strides in their approach to songwriting on their latest record. Ghost City is more laid back on its surface, but exemplifies far more texture and layering and an overall solidified sound and mood.
Vocally and instrumentally, Ghost City may bring some of Minus the Bear‘s earlier work to mind with hints of TTNG.
El Ten Eleven–Banker’s Hill
Genre: Post Rock
FFO: Caspian, Explosions in the Sky, This Will Destroy You
San Diego instrumental duo, El Ten Eleven, present a new LP shimmering with beautiful movements that serve to further demonstrate how efficiently the group can take negative emotions such as anxiety or depression and flawlessly convert such into alluring, instrumental art. The two piece reassures the notion that when post rock is done right, emotion can be felt without the use of vocals and lyricism.
Little Ugly Girls–Little Ugly Girls
Genre: Hardcore Punk, Punk Rock, Noise Rock, Post Punk
FFO: Bikini Kill, The Pixies, Fugazi
Despite landing opening spots for legendary punk acts in the early ’90s such as Fugazi and Bikini Kill, the Australian “riot grrl” act known as Little Ugly Girls waited until 2018 to release their debut full length album.
This record is emotional and instrumentally explosive and if it was released during the era in which the band was most active, it would undoubtedly be considered a classic release.
Better late than never I suppose.
Stream this pummeling release below!
Nostrum Grocers–Nostrum Grocers
Genre: Hip Hop
FFO: Cannibal Ox, Earl Sweatshirt, Tyler the Creator
You may recall last year I made a post regarding an up-and-coming Wisconsin-based MC Rory Ferreira better known as milo and also known as scallops hotel. His unique, clever wordplay complimented the bizarre, atmospheric production found within his most recent record.
Nostrum Grocers is the moniker given to the collaborative effort shared between Ferreira and New York-based MC Elucid. The two work in quite well as a cohesive unit exploring each other’s bizarre tendencies and craft a record that bathes in nostalgia.
Chris Wardlaw–Electric Guitar Performance
Genre: Instrumental, Metal, Punk, Classical
It always fills me with delight when I have the opportunity to do a quick write up on a hard-working musician I know personally and Chris Wardlaw from Western Massachusetts offers listeners a very unique listening experience with his debut solo LP.
Simply titled Electric Guitar Performance, this monster of a record features nine tracks of jaw-dropping, live, analog-recorded guitar playing free of any overdubs.
All recording and mixing was done by another friend of mine, Zachary Sawmiller, at Studio A Studios in Hadley, MA.
You would be a fool to not stream this record in its entirety below.