She Keeps Bees "Kinship (Ba Da Bing!)"
Meditative. Contemplative. Hypnotic. These are all words that came to mind when listening to the new LP from She Keeps Bees (they are also words that come to mind when I watch a baseball game, but that is a story for another blurb). Kinship (Ba Da Bing!) leaves behind the distorted guitars of past albums and replaces them with oodles of strings, synths, organs, and groovy drum beats. Obviously, in touch with the surroundings of their upstate New York home, the band sings about nature, animals, love, loss, and everything in between. Howl along with “Coyote.”
The Get Up Kids "Problems (Polyvinyl)"
Chances are you already know what you think of this new album from The Get Up Kids. I mean, it is their first album in 8 years. But chances are if you are a fan you’ve been filling that long gap in with their back catalog. If that’s the case, then you are in for a real treat because Problems (Polyvinyl) fits right in with their great past works. Anthemic choruses, melodies and lyrics you’ll be singing along to in no time, and more pop-punk guitar lines than you can shake a stick at. Also, put down that stick! You’re inside! Sticks are for the outside you heathen! Pay attention to the music! This is some positively soaring new music from emo forefathers The Get Up Kids, and they are here to show the kids how you really emo. Check out the positively danceable self-reflection of “The Problem Is Me.”
Tōth "Practice Magic and Seek Professional Help When Necessary (Northern Spy)"
Tōth, the new projects from Alex Toth of Rubblebucket and Alexander F came about after he broke his foot during an Alexander F performance. Locked away in his apartment mending that broken foot, along with his broken heart (he and his Rubblebucket partner had recently broken up as well) he started writing the stripped down acoustic songs that make up Practice Magic and Seek Professional Help When Necessary (Northern Spy). The songs are lush but sparse, with occasional trumpet solos from Alex, who is a jazz trumpeter by training. If the Beach Boys wrote a stripped-down break-up record, the results wouldn’t be too off from this. Check out the absolutely lovely “Song To Make You Fall In Love With Me.”
Jan St. Werner "Glottal Wolpertinger (Fiepblatter Catalogue #6) (Thrill Jockey)"
The latest Fiepblatter Catalog release from Jan St. Werner, Glottal Wolpertinger, is an exercise in oscillating drones that started out life as an art installation. Look, I realize that that sentence is either going to send you running as fast as you can away from this release or get you super interested and pressing play on it immediately. If you are the former, then little I can say will change your mind. If you are the latter, then my job is already done! Oscillate along with “Glottal Wolpertinger Feedback Band 3 / B.”