FAVORITE TRACK: Caught in the Moment

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: Mach Bike

Origami Angel is the next up and coming emo band. They've been pretty inescapable at least for me over the past six months so I was very much anticipating a sophomore release from this band. I just... don't think this is that good.

This project is long. Like, reallllly long. It needs to be like seven tracks shorter. And because each track is so short, it makes them hard to stand out from one another. I'm three listens in ... read more

FAVORITE TRACK: Glassy Eyes

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: Logging On

Brutus VIII is the solo project of singer-songwriter Jackson Katz, most known for being the drummer of Slow Hollows. I found Brutus VIII thanks to his connection to Surf Curse's members so if you're a fan of bands like Slow Hollows, Surf Curse, Current Joys- he's an artist I recommend.

Beyond is an angelic and atmospheric project. I absolutely adore the goth and droney sound of tracks like Adolescence that mix in a light video game ... read more

FAVORITE TRACK: National Anthem

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: None

Maybe it's the nostalgia but I've always loved this album. I love the glamorous, theatric sound on tracks like Born to Die, National Anthem and Off to the Races. Del Rey sounds incredible on this and switches up her sound a lot on Born to Die, with Blue Jeans having her singing in a gloomy manner but followed shortly by Diet Mountain Dew, a girly and sultry pop song. Songs like Summertime Sadness highlight the talent Del Rey has by ... read more

FAVORITE TRACK: Miserable America

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: Echo

Fuck you Kevin Abstract for making the best coming of age album of all time I hate you.

FAVORITE TRACK: What You Were

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: None

Truly, honestly.... this is one of my favorite albums ever made. Portamento is so fun and dreamy and is the blueprint in my mind for 2010s indie pop. Songs like Book of Revelation, Days and Money are so fun. The use of cute, repetitive guitar lines and the focus on harmonies, claps, whistles and just little, happy noises to make this album so lively. The guitar on Please Don't Leave is repetitive and just electrifies the track.

Jonny ... read more

FAVORITE TRACK: Global Groove

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: Resolution Square

OH YEAH BABY. SWAGGGGGGGG.

Squid's long-awaited debut was completely worth it. Bright Green Field is a masterfully crafted experimental, noisy post-punk album. I swear there must be something in the water in the UK for every post-punk band to have appeared within the last few years to be incredible. But Squid is a stand-out. Combining psychotic and loud vocals with dynamic guitars on tracks like Pamphlets and Narrator, ... read more

FAVORITE TRACK: Gundaman

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: Heart Break Kid

So this is the brother of Tyler Joseph of twenty one pilots (but not the openly conservative brother). It's very apparent to make connection between Joseph and his brother from his production and the sound of his voice, but Jay Joseph does have a fun energy to his sound and a pretty good flow. The lyrics on this are solid and follow a pretty linear story of living in his mom's basement and being a bit of a self-producing loser, ... read more

FAVORITE TRACK: Walking the Crow

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: Funeral Home

There's something about the aging voice of Daniel Johnston that is so great. In my opinion, he sounded better on some tracks with age. This live performance is so raw and beautiful. Johnston still manages to keep his heart and childlike wonder in his performance.

FAVORITE TRACK: Walking the Cow

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: She Called Pest Control

"Lucky stars in your eyes."

Once in a lifetime, we get an artist who is so different and unique and special. They make their art for the sake of themselves and not with the thought that other people will hear it.

I'm so glad that person in this lifetime was Daniel Johnston.

There has never been someone like Daniel Johnston and there's never been music like his. He's so unique. These songs are strange ... read more

FAVORITE TRACK: Jalouse

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: PXE

I really enjoyed this EP. ECCO2K has been an artist I always meant to get around to and just never did but I ended up really enjoying PXE. The glitch pop aspects works in ecco2k's favor to create some really lively and fun songs. In The Flesh and No***'s Song are happy sounding hyperpop songs and the vocals on No***'s Song are weird in an enticing way. The vocals on Jalouse are pretty good and the mix of guitar with this futuristic, messy ... read more

FAVORITE TRACK: Tocar Você

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: Melô de ilusão

Look I don’t understand a word being said as this entire album is in Portuguese. However, Duda Beat’s Te Amo Lá Fora is so electric and fun. Duda’s voice is incredible and lights up the album with her vocals and destroys any language barrier. The production on tracks like Tocar Você help create a really fun song. This album is really fun.

FAVORITE TRACK: I’ll Call You Mine

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: Serotonin

bro.... i’m so disappointed.

girl in red makes music that is in the genre of “indie pop for teenagers about love”. Similar to artists like Conan Gray, Clairo and Wallows- girl in red has always been able to stand out because she’s proved to be quite talented with tracks like i wanna be your girlfriend and bad idea. if i could make it all go quiet feels like a soulless indie pop album ... read more

twenty one pilots have returned to their roots in making a terrible song!!

FAVORITE TRACK: DsharpG (By Shamir)

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: One Day (By St. Panther)

epic Ten takes Sharon Van Etten’s Epic and reimagines its sound with a bunch of guest artists. The one that really stuck out to me was IDLES, which actually got me to sit down and listen to this project. Even before listening, the lineup is extremely promising, with Big Red Machine, Shamir, Courtney Barnett, Vagabon and Fiona Apple being featured on this.

What makes epic Ten great is that although ... read more

FAVORITE TRACK: A Crime

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: None

Sharon Van Etten is extremely talented. I first heard the New Jersey native (represent) with the release of her amazing 2019 album “Remind Me Tomorrow”. Epic, almost eleven now, is a wonderful project that slows the pace Van Etten brought on Remind Me Tomorrow and highlights her amazing voice.

On the opening track, A Crime, it just becomes so apparent then how talented Van Etten is. Her instrumental is simple but her folk tone ... read more

FAVORITE TRACK: Potomino

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: Bobby

This is not my favorite. Which sucks because this band does have the potential for so much more. The vocals aren't bad, the playing isn't bad, the lyrics are good it's just so bland. This project just feels so boring and bloated with only having four tracks. That being said, Potomino and Weird Carolina are both pretty decent tracks.

FAVORITE TRACK: My Dog

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: Tourist Trap

A really pretty and solid indie EP. Honeycomb, Bedbug has great vocals over some simple instrumentals. Not really a standout for the year since 2020 was filled with great music but this EP is cute and gentle.

FAVORITE TRACK: Long Distance Conjoined Twins

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: The Old Country

Been very much anticipating listening to this one.

I Became Birds is a stellar and emotional emo project. Mixed with screaming and harmonicas, Home Is Where brings a fun and intriguing sound to the emo world. The vocals on this are not my favorite and honestly weigh the project down in the non-yelling parts. In the nicest way possible, the lead vocalist does sound like Goofy. But the lyrics on this are catchy ... read more

FAVORITE TRACK: 21/04/20

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: None !

Compared to the video game-like quality of Civilisation I, Civilisation II feels more lyric and vocal-driven. Sarah Bonito is very talented and obviously the star of this but it feels like a step-down to Civilisation I. But this EP is still bouncy and playful and sticks to the happy and adventurous sound that KKB is a staple of.

FAVORITE TRACK: When the Fires Come

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: None !!

Coming down from one of my worst highs of my life so listening to this feels like lightning bolts in my head but a good way. Sarah Bonito has a wonderful voice and the synthy video game-like backing instrumentals really light up her sound. The guitar solo on The River is wonderful. Although this EP is short, the songs are playful and fun with some great production.