Julia Jacklin "Crushing (Polyvinyl)"
Julia Jacklin’s second LP Crushing (Polyvinyl) is the sound of Julia refinding herself. After a few years on tour, she was feeling a little shattered, her mind disconnected with her body. This is the way she rejoined the two, and thank goodness she did. With an easy, vibe-y delivery and laid back instrumentation, this is like the best of the ‘70s mixed with the best of today. Check out the Tom Petty meets Sharon Van Etten sounds of “Body.”
Martin Frawley "Undone At 31 (Merge)"
You may know Martin Frawley as a primary member of the Melbourne rock band Twerps. Well, recently, he stepped out from behind that band to release his solo debut. Undone At 31 (Merge) finds Martin greatly expanding his sonic palette, as well as his songwriting skills. With a hushed, conversational vocal delivery somewhere between Lou Reed and Kurt Vile and an ear for arrangement-each of these songs exists by itself. Whether the song has only Rhodes and pedal steel, or mog, violin, and bass-the thing holding it all together is Martin’s knack for auditory pairings as well as his talent for melody. If you like a record that is comforting from the first listen, then Undone At 31 is for you. Oscillating between rockers and ballads, there is something for everyone here. Yes, even you in the back! I promise! Check out the dynamic bass and acoustic shuffle of “You Want Me.”
bis "Slight Disconnects"
Glasgow band bis have been gracing the world with their quirky punk disco for over 20 years. Surely, by now, they are showing signs of slowing down, right? There’s now away that in 2019 they are as vital as they’ve ever been. It wouldn’t be possible for them to sound like they are having the time of their lives on their newest record, right? Right!?! WRONG! ALL THOSE OPPOSITE THINGS ARE TRUE! SLIGHT DISCONNECTS IS SUPER FUN, AND THE BAND ARE AS GREAT AS EVER! How’s that for a disconnect? Get ready for the synth-y, jangly, danceable quirk-bomb of “This Slight Disconnect.”
Flat Worms "Into The Iris EP (Drag City)"
I know not everyone is a fan of the kind of blurb that says things like “this band sounds like if Conway Twitty paired up with Kool & The Gang and they released an album of Harry Chapin covers”. I know, it can be kind of reductive. But, it’s helpful shorthand and the point of these blurbs (besides the attempts at “jokes”) is to get you to listen to these amazing songs. So if they work in that regard, then more power to them, right? Case in point? This stellar EP from LA band Flat Worms. It wasn’t far into Into The Iris EP (Drag City) before I exclaimed to myself “oh wow, this sounds like if Ian Curtis was in Sonic Youth.” If that tickles your fancy as much as I imagine it does, then get excited and check out “Surreal New Year.”