Human Touch "Promise Not To Fall (Barsuk)"
So you heard “Promise Not To Fall” in 13 Reasons Why and now you want more? You sure do. Mixing downtempo Phantogram with Beach House Portland’s Human Touch are the perfect band to listen to while lamenting your return to school (be it high school, college, or Hebrew). Album highlight is the almost uptempo “Swan Song” featuring the oh so catchy refrain of “I’ve Gone Too Far”. Well as long as long as you’re talking eating a box of cookies and nothing else we are good to go. Dig into the delicious “Living Young” and “Save You” and don’t worry Christmas break is just around the corner.
SUMAC "Love In Shadow (Thrill Jockey)"
Across the four songs (each one over 15 minutes long) on the new Sumac LP Love In Shadow (Thrill Jockey), the trio sings about spiritual love. At least, that’s what the press release says about it. SUMAC’s hardcore-esque vocals have never been the easiest to discern. But does that matter? No really. Not when their thrash metal interplay is this tight and this much fun. So get ready to bash your head and break some stuff, all in the name of love. Check out the brutal beauty of “Attis’ Blade.”
Thalia Zedek Band "Fighting Season (Thrill Jockey)"
The voice that has help defined indie rock for the past three decades is back with “Fighting Season”. Like a high-school friend who hasn’t turned into a Facebook disaster, Thalia is as steady as they Come (sic) as a member os such awesome bands including Come, Uzi, Live Skull, and most recently her new trio E. Her love of a sad fiddler on the roof is strong and sounds extra beautiful on “War Not Won”, but when she is ready to rock, she brings in J. Mascis and the walls come down on “Bend Again”. Thalia is seemingly always ready to fight and keeps on fighting, so join #teamthalia and dig into the aforementioned “Bend Again.”
Bad Moves "Tell No One (Don Giovanni)"
Washington DC has a long history of punk music, and now Bad Moves are a part of that history. Tell No One (Don Giovanni) is the debut from the pop-punk quartet. Anthemic and powerful, yet heartfelt and pop-leaning, this is quintessential pop-punk for the lovers of the genre. However, their sound is a little more universal than the genre generally lends itself to. It’s more like modern pop-punk mixed with classic ‘90s indie rock. Take, for instance, the beyond catchy and quirky shifts of The Breeders-esque “One Thing.”