Kit Martin, based in both London and France, and Merve Erdem, based in London, make up the two halves of Kit Sebastian. The group was formed in 2018, with their debut album Mantra Moderne being released the following year. I had first caught a whiff of Mantra Moderne in 2020, date unknown, for all the inferable reasons.
Read MoreThe first thing that struck me about Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You was the cover: a white canvas with a drawing at the center. All four of Big Thief’s previous albums have had photograph covers full of life, while this cover is sparse. Ironically, the album is anything but. Released three years after Two Hands, Dragon is a turning point for Big Thief.
Read MoreOn January 28, 2022, the American rock band Pinegrove released their fifth studio album, 11:11. To many of their devoted fans, the album was a bit of a letdown. Their single “Alaska '' was released back in November 2021 and it took on a newer feel and style that made many excited for the upcoming album. On the album, with its upbeat, catchy rhythms, it demonstrated the best parts of Pinegrove’s indie rock sound.
Read MoreWith its eclectic blend of cosmic-sounding ambient noise, psychedelic experimentation, and the familiar drone of 90s shoegaze music, Lazer Guided Melodies gave new meaning to the term “space-rock.” Although the album had to compete with other burgeoning indie acts like Pale Saints and Galaxie 500 for recognition at the time of its release, Lazer Guided Melodies is, and always was, in a league of its own, causing it to resonate with listeners nearly 30 years later.
Read MoreSix years after Modest Mouse’s last studio album, The Golden Casket welcomes fans on a new journey that blends the affection and gratitude leadsinger Isaac Brock learned through fatherhood with the cynical skepticism of the band’s past.
Read MoreWolf Alice, the UK alt-rock band, emerges as a sneaking powerhouse. For over a decade now, their songs have floated through radio stations, appeared on the niche Spotify playlists, and secretly nestled themselves in the back of the average indie kid’s mind.
Read MoreIndie-folk fans rejoice: the new Shakey Graves album is here. Unlike his more recent psychedelic rock releases, Roll the Bones X is a re-release of Alejandro Rose-Garcia's 2011 EP Roll the Bones with extra songs, demos, and commentaries about his songwriting process from that period. Complete with his signature guitar riffs and off-putting vocals, harmonies, and lyrics, Roll the Bones X is full of southern gothic-y, hippy-ish, Shakey Graves goodness.
Read MoreFor the duration of winter break, I’ve been chipping away at a 400-hour long playlist of new albums to listen to. Here’s what I found most favorable in a no-skips, minimal-multitasking climate, as well as a full list of the albums I got around to this week. A good number of the albums listed include tracks I’ve listened to before, but I love thoughtfully arranged albums, and there’s always something to learn from hearing every track in order.
Read MoreAfter an eight year hiatus, the once experimental garage-rock band Atta Boy regrouped to produce their sophomore album Big Heart Manners. Combining printmaking, cacti, and ghosts on the cover of their release, needless to say, I was pretty excited to dive into this album.
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