PENDANT - THROUGH A COIL
Pendant is the project of Oakland’s Christopher Adams (of calculator, Never Young, and Dye) and their debut full-length album, Through A Coil, vacillates between easy listening and melodic punk rock. Lead single “Rubber Band” is layered with pop rock hooks reminiscent of the slowgazy Horse Jumper of Love and Peaer. Mangled guitars and palpable melodies make this a relaxing listen from start to finish. Adams’ soothing voice is able to peak over the chaotic riffs for a poignant lyrical venture. As a new Tiny Engines signing, I know big things are on the horizon for this ambitious one man show. Listen on Spotify - Sarah Masessa
FKA TWIGS - MAGDALENE
It's finally here. The long awaited follow-up to her 2014 debut that could arguably sit near the peak of abstract trap-pop, a time when Future's fingerprints could be found all over the charts without his name ever sitting on top of them, FKA twigs MAGDALENE is an incredible statement of vulnerability and technical prowess unrivaled in 2019. Moving beyond the labels that have attempted to define FKA twigs discography, the intense experimentation serves as an incredible backdrop to for which the narrative of the album evokes feelings of pain, shame, triumph, and self-doubt. Despite being offered as a single, "cellophane" is brought into a brighter spotlight as the albums closer, with the context leading into it making it one of the most powerful final statements of the year. Listen on Spotify - David McDevitt
MOOR MOTHER - ANALOG FLUIDS OF SOLID BLACK
Philadelphia activist and poet Camae Ayewa, also known as Moor Mother, returns with a dark, aggressive, and mesmerizing fourth LP. Analog Fluids of Sonic Black finds Ayewa diving deep into contemporary political issues through lyrics derived from both spirituals and dystopian Afrofuturism. Her vocals are passionate and urgent, effortlessly switching back and forth between rap and spoken word poetry. The production complements the themes perfectly, with abrasive industrial soundscapes that occasionally coalesce into distinct grooves. It's a fascinating middle ground between experimental hip hop and andavant garde protest and it comes at a time when it couldn't be more vital. Listen on Spotify - Camden Phalen
GREET DEATH - NEW HELL
Flint, Michigan's Greet Death return with a follow-up to 2017's very good Dixieland, with an album far less spooky than all of its naming conventions may suggest: New Hell. Singer Sam Boyhtari's vocals run from stoned and sweet to acidic, and occasionally deploy the band’s secret weapon that helps to differentiate them from other acts that fall somewhere between hardcore and indie rock: a soothing falsetto. The band weaves its way masterfully through dread and self-destructive tendencies in a viscous atmospheric haze, wondering occasionally if everyone they know secretly hates them. Standout tracks include “Let it Die,” “You’re Gonna Hate What You’ve Done,” and “Strange Days.” Listen on Spotify - Reid Flynn
SHOOJOO - ROOM
The nine song LP room by the mysterious shoojoo landed in the laps of the folks at Grumpy Records in a very atypical way. shoojoo is an anonymous artist who lets their work speak for itself. The album is dreamy and almost otherworldly. Each song title is lowercase, which speaks to the unassuming and smooth melodic prowess of each track. There's an earnest beauty to the work of shoojoo, and true talent with the ability to strike at emotion without relying on the intricacies of lyricism. It's a symbolic ride through the depth of one's inner-conciousness. Listen on Bandcamp - Sarah Masessa
MOUNT EERIE & JULIE DOIRON - LOST WISDOM, PT. 2
This may not be the album to listen to if you’re in need of a pick-me-up. Lost Wisdom, Pt. 2 is a 30-minute, incredibly personal story on the monster that is grief, sadness, and loss. Phil Elverum centers these songs around the end of his first relationship after his wife’s passing (a perhaps, too public marriage to Hollywood actress Michelle Williams)—once again forcing him to get comfortable with a daunting and irreplaceable silence. Elverum and Doiron perfectly bounce off one another when exploring pain's many pitfalls while also remaining somewhat hopeful over the future. It’s a difficult, dark, and necessary listen for anyone who remains busy finding their place in the universe. Listen on Spotify - Sarah Masessa
MACSEAL - SUPER ENTHUSIAST
Macseal’s debut album, Super Enthusiast, capitalizes on last year’s Map It Out EP, adding nuance to their already well-developed pop punk tendencies. The band’s bubblegum emo hooks draw similarities to fellow Long Islanders Oso Oso and Boston-based Future Teens. Super Enthusiast offers more dynamically curious ideas where palm-muted guitars better suited for opening up a house show pit may once have been. A very solid debut, that even features a remake of fan favorite “Sure Thing, Shelly,” retitled, perhaps in an act of soul-hardening growing up, as “Nothing’s a Sure Thing, Shelly.” Listen on Spotify - Reid Flynn
