Alt

St. Tropez

Artist: 
St. Tropez
Label: 
Self-Released

Self-described as "four guys making garage-punk in a former gay sauna by the canals of Amsterdam," St. Tropez is quite the interesting garage punk band. I can only imagine what spending a day in that former gay sauna is like which may be why there music is nearly maddening with the rough and powerful sounds they produce. While I'm typically not one to enjoy rough styles of alternative, St. Tropez's style isn't too violent to not be enjoyable.

Sounds Like: 
Foster Care
Sounds Like: 
GOGGS
Name: 
Alli Gilbreath
Date Reviewed: 
03/08/2017

Always Sad - Single

Artist: 
The Jesus and Mary Chain
Label: 
ADA

After an 18-year hiatus, legendary (in the alt world) Scottish band The Jesus and Mary Chain are back with new music. Following the first single off their new album Damage and Joy (which is to be released later this month) "Amputation", a second single titled "Always Sad" was released just a month ago. I will admit that after an 18-year hiatus that this song is a little underwhelming, but it is by no means a bad song. 

Sounds Like: 
Pixies
Sounds Like: 
New Order
Sounds Like: 
Sonic Youth
Name: 
Roy Santa Cruz
Date Reviewed: 
03/08/2017

Prisoner

Artist: 
Ryan Adams
Label: 
Blue Note Records

This was insanely good. After listening to it in its entirety, I immediately listened to it two more times. I might stay up late and listen to it again. The album is classic Ryan Adams, and he bears his alt-country troubador soul over the course of the twelve tracks. The album is his breakup album after his divorce with Mandy Moore. The songs have a lonely, alienated feel and this record would be good to listen to while driving at night.

Sounds Like: 
Jason Isbell
Sounds Like: 
Jeff Tweedy
Name: 
Will Fotter
Date Reviewed: 
03/07/2017

When the Morning Greets You

Artist: 
Mr. Elevator & The Brain Hotel
Label: 
Rad Cat Reords

This band really gives off a vibe from everything that was great about the late 60s and early 70s in music. With definite influences coming from the Doors and Pink Floyd and modern bands like Tame Impala and Foxygen. This record really has some good melodies and out there psychedelia. It doesn't really stray to far from this psych pop sounds. There's a lot of good organ sounding keyboard solos. Definitely a good listen and will keep an eye out for more stuff from them in the future. 

Sounds Like: 
The Doors
Sounds Like: 
Foxygen
Name: 
Daniel Clark
Date Reviewed: 
03/06/2017

Everybody Works

Artist: 
Jay Som
Label: 
Polyvinyl

I was really hyped to listen to this full length record after listening to all three singles 'The Bus Song',' 1 Billion Dogs' and 'Baybee ' which were all great.  Her last record Turn Into was also really good.  She has toured with bands like Mitski and Japanese Breakfast. Not only does she have good dreamy tracks in the record but there are also some really good straight up rock songs.

Sounds Like: 
ALex G
Sounds Like: 
Frankie Cosmos
Name: 
Daniel Clark
Date Reviewed: 
03/06/2017

Sincerely

Artist: 
Dude York
Label: 
Hardly Art

The Seattle based trio, Dude York, is an alternative teen pop band. Their newest release Sincerely, touches on themes of anxiety and losing perspective.

Sounds Like: 
Diet Cig
Sounds Like: 
So So Glos
Name: 
Javi Perez
Date Reviewed: 
03/01/2017

Bloodshot Tokyo

Artist: 
The Dig
Label: 
Roll Call Records

This album features really smooth vocals with a good beat and an interesting variation of sounds/riffs in each individual track. I would best compare the sound to a 60-70's psychedelic rock band. There is a good use of synthesizers with more traditional rock instruments:drum and electric guitar. 

Sounds Like: 
The Lumineers
Sounds Like: 
Maroon 5
Name: 
Hibah Ilyas
Date Reviewed: 
03/01/2017

Eat Their Own

Artist: 
The Paranoyds
Label: 
Self-Released

“Eat Their Own” is the newest release by LA garage-rock outfit The Paranoyds. While only a brief fifteen minutes in runtime, each tracks provides a dense cacophony of fuzz and sensational hooks. The opening track “Pet Cemetery” is an atmospheric introduction to an album defined by its playful combination of humor and menace.

Sounds Like: 
The Cramps
Name: 
Calvin Wolfe
Date Reviewed: 
03/01/2017

In Dreams

Artist: 
Night Talks
Label: 
Independent

Soraya Sebghati, Jacob Butler (guitar), and brothers Josh (bass) and Cris (drums) Arteaga make up Los Angeles alternative rock outfit Night Talks. In Dreams kicked off with this tasty treat titled 4×4. It was a spectacular song which left me completely captivated.

Sounds Like: 
The Cranberries
Sounds Like: 
The Cardigans
Name: 
Jacob Sky Bruse
Date Reviewed: 
03/01/2017

Alphabet

Artist: 
SX
Label: 
Universal Music

Really slow electronic music... While I was listening to the album, I imagined a scene from a movie where the the main characters are sitting in a bar, conversing, and in this bar, there is  a woman off in the background singing--no one really listening. 

Sounds Like: 
Flume
Sounds Like: 
SZA
Name: 
Hibah Ilyas
Date Reviewed: 
02/28/2017