Young Jesus "The Whole Thing Is Just There (Saddle Creek)"
Its been some time since art rock has been this art… or this rock for that matter. Joint LA-based quartet Young Jesus on their experimental journeys into riffs, noise, shifts in tone, stretching out, and all around being a very good band. Its like The Sea and Cake teamed up with very early Modest Mouse to cover Miles Davis albums in his Bitches Brew phase. Yeah. It is that good. Polyrhythmic jazz-rock drumming, prog rock bass prowess, dirty, spindly guitars and John Rossiter’s manic vocals. This could be your new favorite band. Start the love affair with “Saganism vs Buddhism.”
YOWLER "Black Dog In My Path (Double Double Whammy)"
Philadelphia’s Maryn Jones has been releasing music in some form since 2004. She’s been a member of the “loud pop outfit” All Dogs as well as psych-folkers Saintseneca. But in 2013 she started Yowler as a solo project “where dark thoughts and too-quiet moments could be placed.” The result is Black Dog In My Path (Double Double Whammy), the second Yowler release. Mostly Jones’ lovely vocals (often multi-tracked) and acoustic guitar, with hints of bass and cello and other assorted band room denizens. Unless its not a ballad, because Maryn is not afraid to rock either. Magically delicate and powerful, these songs are a window into her soul–as the best songs usually tend to be. A little bit like Liz Phair’s early work, a little bit like Elliot Smith-this one packs a punch. Check out the emotional shuffle of “Angel.”
TTNG "Animals Acoustic (Sargent House)"
You like TTNG, right (FKA This Town Needs Guns)? You like their classic album Animals, right? You like acoustic versions of songs you already like, right? Then you are gonna LOVE this acoustic reworking of Animals, Animals Acoustic (Sargent House). All your math rock-y favorites are here. Gibbon, Dog, Elk… Check out the spry, crisp sound of “Baboon.”
Swearin' "Fall Into The Sun (Merge)"
For those keeping score at home Swearin’, is Allison Crutchfield’s band with Kyle Gilbride and Jeff Bolt, and It’s the first new album from Swearin’ since 2013’s Surfing Strange and their first new music since their 2015 breakup. Late last year, the band announced they’d reunited to tour with Superchunk. Also last year, Crutchfield released a debut solo album, Tourist in This Town, and toured as a member of sister Katie Crutchfield’s Waxahatchee). WOW! Got that? So let us get to “Fall Into The Sun” – you like 90’s indie rock? You like The Breeders and Elastica and breathing air? Well, you are gonna love Swearin’. Crank up “Grow Into A Ghost.”