Blondshell Tips a Hat to the 1990s on This Feisty LP
Blondshell’s new LP is beautifully produced and clouds the issue of feeling like a throwback to a bygone era, rather than a call for a new generation of songwriters.
alternative pop
Self Esteem Revels in Freedom, Empathy, and Pop Know-How
Self Esteem steps into a more grounded and rangy perspective. She’s overcome numerous challenges. She’s learned to live in the world and her own skin. She’s free.
Unrest Unleash the 30th Anniversary Edition of ‘Perfect Teeth’
Unrest’s final album, Perfect Teeth, explores the incredible diversity of 1990s indie rock. It’s absolutely unmissable if you’re a fan of the genre.
Galaxie 500’s Dean Wareham Is on Fire with His Beautiful Work
Former Galaxie 500 frontperson Dean Wareham speaks about his latest solo album’s themes, which coincide with the recent Los Angeles fires and the eternal political moment.
The Tubs Explore Love and Loss on ‘Cotton Crown’
The Tubs’ Cotton Crown deals with darker themes about love, loss, and failure despite their penchant for sunny jangle pop sounds.
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The 30 Best Pop Albums of 2024
The 30 best pop albums of 2024 radiate with unstoppable playlist power, much-needed sweet escapism, self-reflection, self-criticism, and killer melodies.
Peach Pit Prove Their Worth on ‘Magpie’
The songs on Peach Pit’s Magpie have little idiosyncrasies. They are built around sophisticated chord progressions and unique vocal and guitar melodies.
Pop Duo Kit Sebastian Thrill on Thoughtful ‘New Internationale’
Kit Sebastian’s New Internationale is a robust pop masterpiece, a boldly artful work that is refined but not restrained, tasteful but never bland.
Maude Latour Tastes Life’s Sweetness on ‘Sugar Water’
Maude Latour’s ambitious debut LP suggests something rare: a visionary willing to trust her vision. The record offers a cohesive manifesto of mysticism.
Tim O’Brien of Blood Is a Multi-Dimensional Man
It’s raucous, it’s queer, and it’s uncompromising. Blood’s Tim O’Brien is sticking to his guns. “I won’t change the [band] name for the sake of search engines.”
Blood Deliver Catharsis on ‘Loving You Backwards’
Blood’s LP builds and occasionally explodes, providing catharsis in sounds more than shouted lyrics. It sounds more like a balm than ripping off a Band-Aid.
L’étrangleuse Find Artful Balance with ‘Ambiance Argile’
L’étrangleuse’s music draws from all sides of the Mediterranean and beyond, creating something new and categorically nebulous in a way that works well.