I have always loved to say that I liked Alternative Rock back when it was. Somehow, in the 2000s, the American music scene began making the music I loved boring and colorless and popular. Grunge became the be-all, and joy left the party.
So, it is always with some caution that I approach albums like Moonback Stage‘s Echo Process (L’Autre Distribution). It is always with pleasure that I’m rewarded for the effort.Continue reading
Ryan Michalski, who has been making music for many years under many names and bands, is currently going by Ryan Cosmonaut. He just released his new album Stars Are Coming, on The Doorway To label, and it’s an exploration of thoughtful lyricism and eclectic and killer songcraft. Ryan has given us a track-by-track breakdown of the depth and meaning behind each song on the record.Continue reading
When the music leads you into strange lands and genre categorisations start to feel like a near-impossibility, thank the heavens for Luna Honey who save us from wandering the streets at night, lost in perplexed reflection. Continue reading
All-female punk trailblazers The Linda Lindas have released their sophomore album No Obligation via Epitaph Records. Their latest musical effort follows their 2022 debut album Growing Up, also released via Epitaph Records.Continue reading
With Halloween upon us, and Instagram beginning to fill with girls sporting a Vampira look for their selfies, it begs the question what is Goth? The answer might not be revealed in Dead Posey’s new album Are You In a Cult (Self-Released), but this duo is banging out some fun-filled arena rock that has more in common with The Pretty Reckless than it does Siouxsie and the Banshees. The album is full of catchy choruses and frontwoman Danyell Souza sings about creepy things, but it packs the kind of punch that would be more at home at the Welcome to Rockville fest than, opening for The Cure. Continue reading
From the fuzzy Alt Rock and early Foo Fighters vibe of “Vienna,” German rockers Birds View’s second album House of Commando (Drakkar Entertainment) starts as it means to go on. Influenced by ‘90s alternative rock acts such as the aforementioned Foos, Soundgarden, and Queens of the Stone Age, HOC is primed with propulsive, straight-to-the-point songs that do not outstay their welcome. Continue reading
Spiral In A Straight Line (Rise Records) is Touché Amoré’s sixth album. They are not only more confident in who they are as a band, but continuing the journey fussy they are not capable of explosive emotional outbursts as heard in the song. This is handled in a more Punk way, with less overt emoting. The more polished production compliments the progression of their creative path, with the guitars being where growth is most evident. On a song like “Hal Ashby” they embrace the late nineties all over again thanks to the jangle of the guitars. This feels the most like what we once called Emo with a punk drive that thankfully owes more to Hot Water Music than Blink-182.Continue reading
It is not until a band evolves and transforms their sound that they are able to unleash their fullest potential. With their last album Don’t You Feel Amazing? in 2021, British alternative rock outfit Trash Boat proved there was more to them than Pop Punk. With their fourth album Heaven Can Wait (Hopeless Records), the band has found their footing in their own unique blend of Rock, Metal, Punk, and experimental elements, taking the most captivating aspects of each to bring their brutal and contemplative vision to life.Continue reading
Hitching their wagon to both Ska influences and Pop-Punk/Alt Rock proclivities, Rat Boy opts for colorful and lively compositions all across new full-length Suburbia Calling (Epitaph Records).Continue reading
At no point on Pedigree Pig (Self-Released), the debut EP by Seattle Post-Punk three-piece Anthers, does it feel like this is a record recorded from down the road. Pedigree Pig, I’m quite sure, was recorded in a murky sci-fi sex dungeon on the moon — conveniently being rented out for band recordings, but smelling kind of sus. Continue reading