Rookie: Rookie [Album Review]
Rookie RookieBloodshot Records [2020] The debut album of 6-piece Chicago band Rookie comes out of the box just dripping with references to a much earlier … Read more
Yumi Zouma: Truth Or Consequences [Album Review]
Yumi Zouma Truth Or ConsequencesPolyvinyl Records [2020] The third full-length effort from the quartet of New Zealanders who got their start playing shows around Christchurch … Read more
Monophonics: It’s Only Us [Album Review]
Monophonics It’s Only Us Colemine Records [2020] We are currently in really strange times so the smooth soul of the Monophonics fifth record, It’s Only … Read more
The Districts: You Know I’m Not Going Anywhere [Album Review]
The DistrictsYou Know I’m Not Going AnywhereFat Possum Records [2020] For The Districts’ fourth full-length release, You Know I’m Not Going Anywhere, singer/songwriter Rob Grote … Read more
Porridge Radio: Every Bad [Album Review]
Porridge RadioEvery BadSecretly Canadian [2020] What started out as a bedroom project from singer Dana Margoiln has quickly evolved into a much bigger indie band … Read more
Wasted Shirt: Fungus II [Album Review]
Wasted Shirt Fungus IIFamous Class Records [2020] Ty Segall is back and this time he has collaborated with Brian Chippendale of Lightning Bolt to form Wasted Shirt. Their debut, Fungus … Read more
Stephen Malkmus: Traditional Techniques [Album Review]
Stephen Malkmus Traditional TechniquesMatador Records [2020] Stephen Malkmus has been on a creative tear of late, releasing a band record with The Jicks in 2018 … Read more
Disq: Collector [Album Review]
DisqCollectorSaddle Creek Records [2020] What is not to like about Madison Wisconsin’s Disq? They are a young five piece barley into their twenties that play … Read more
Sonny Landreth: Blacktop Run [Album Review]
Sonny Landreth Blacktop RunMascot Label Group [2020] Sonny Landreth is a guitar player’s guitarist, much the way John Hiatt and John Prine are songwriter’s songwriters. … Read more
The Proper Ornaments: Mission Bells [Album Review]
The Proper Ornaments Mission BellsTapete Records [2020] After a few enjoyable listens to this fifth album from London’s The Proper Ornaments, I was surprised to … Read more
Eyelids: The Accidental Falls [Album Review]
EyelidsThe Accidental FallsJealous Butcher Records [2020] When you can list Guided By Voices, The Decemberists, Stephen Malkmus and Elliott Smith as artists you have played … Read more
Shell Of A Shell: Away Team [Album Review]
Shell Of A Shell Away TeamExploding In Sound Records [2020] Who: Nashville, Tennessee quartet, Shell of a Shell ramp up the tension for their debut … Read more
Tame Impala: The Slow Rush [Album Review]
Tame ImpalaThe Slow RushInterscope Records [2020] Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker is a perfectionist and he has slowly turned his musical vehicle away from the psych … Read more
Greg Dulli: Random Desire [Album Review]
Greg Dulli Random DesireRoyal Cream/BMG [2020] Greg Dulli may just now be getting around to making a solo studio album, but both as the lead … Read more
Guided By Voices: Surrender Your Poppy Field [Album Review]
Guided By Voices Surrender Your Poppy Field GBV Inc. [2020] The 2020 release calendar finally feels official with a new album from Guided By Voices. … Read more
Phil Madeira: Open Heart [Album Review]
Phil Madeira Open HeartMercyland [2020] At this late date, Phil Madeira must still feel that he has something to prove. Besides his “day job” as … Read more
Beach Bunny: Honeymoon [Album Review]
Beach BunnyHoneymoonMom + Pop Music [2020] Chicago’s Beach Bunny started out as an acoustic solo project from Lili Trifilio back in 2015 but has transformed … Read more
Ethan Gruska: En Garde [Album Review]
Ethan GruskaEn GardeWarner Records [2020] On this sophomore effort by Ethan Gruska, his producer chops are on display as much as his melodic sensibilities as … Read more
Post Animal: Forward Motion Godyssey [Album Review]
Post Animal Forward Motion GodysseyPolyvinyl Records [2020] I feel like if I’m going to introduce you to Chicago, Illinois’s Post Animal then I have to … Read more
Wire: Mind Hive [Album Review]
Wire Mind HivePinkflag [2020] It’s the rare band that stays together over 40 years, and even rarer not to have evolved musically over time. AC/DC … Read more
Green Day: The Father Of All… [Album Review]
Green Day The Father Of All Motherfuckers Reprise Records [2020] Generally speaking, even the most popular punk rock bands are not designed to stay vital … Read more
…And You Will Know Us By Our Trail Of Dead: X: The Godless Void And Other Stories [Album Review]
…And You Will Know Us By Our Trail Of Dead X: The Godless Void And Other Stories Dine Alone Records [2020] Austin, Texas’ …And You … Read more
Nada Surf: Never Not Together [Album Review]
Nada Surf Never Not Together Barsuk Records [2020] Nada Surf’s ninth studio recording and first in almost four years, Never Not Together, does not necessarily … Read more
Tall Tall Trees: A Wave Of Golden Things [Album Review]
Tall Tall TreesA Wave Of Golden ThingsJoyful Noise Recordings [2020] Mike Savino is Tall Tall Trees and he is probably best known as the highly … Read more
Drive-By Truckers: The Unraveling [Album Review]
Drive-By Truckers The Unraveling ATO Records [2020] Album Review: The Drive-By Truckers are back with their 12th album, an obvious follow-up to their politically charged … Read more