Ian Felice "In The Kingdom Of Dreams"
Ian Felice, lead singer and songwriter of The Felice Brothers, has released a solo debut! In The Kingdom Of Dreams finds Ian escaping the weight of 2016 (when he wrote the tunes) with crafting songs. Tired of the oppressive election cycle of the year (as were we all), worn down from touring plus the impending worry of being a new father, Ian turned to these songs as a way to clean his psyche. Full of the folk-y, americana ideals Ian has been dealing with, this is as haunting and beautiful as anything he ever did with his brothers, or in his co-songwriting duties with The Lumineers of Bat For Lashes. Check out the ramshackle, dusty title track “In The Kingdom Of Dreams.”
Rare Energy "Rare Energy (Team Love)"
If you like your drums to have an indie shuffle, your songwriter’s emotions to be worn on their sleeves, and your aesthetic to be of the ‘90s college/indie persuasion, then boy oh boy do I have a new favorite band for you. Rare Energy, the new EP from Guilt Mountain is everything someone could want from a genre that can be decidedly overproduced at times. Sounding a little bit like early Helium tracks with Kate Larson’s vocal delivery reminding me of the Deal sisters at their most conversational, this is the kind of collection that makes you want to start a band immediately. Like, right this second. But you don’t have time for that now, because you need to check out “Fever.”
Rainer Maria "Rainer Maria (Polyvinyl)"
There we were. It was just a regular day at the BRM offices. Jen was being sensible. Pete was wearing a hat. AJ was hungover from the show(s?) he hit the night before. We got an email, just like any other, except it wasn’t. Our buds at Polyvinyl had something to say. “New Rainer Maria!” It didn’t matter what we were doing, when you get an email with music from a band you spent your youth loving and hasn’t released so much as a single in over a decade, you drop what you’re doing and you listen. And listen we did, my friends. Everything was there! Everyone’s favoritist DIY trio was treating our ears to introspective, rocking indie tunes once again. Lemme tell you, there was much rejoicing. You’ll be rejoicing too as you check out the power of the instant classic, “Lower Worlds.”
Girl Ray "Earl Gray (Moshi Moshi)"
Hot off of being named Stereogum’s “Album Of The Week” it’s Earl Gray (Moshi Moshi), the full-length debut of North London’s Girl Ray. Here we find the three 19 year old members of the band in full mid-80s British indie-pop mode. But don’t think that means that they just sound like a Wedding Present reboot (though there are hints of that band’s sound here). Full of the emotions and warm, flat analog sounds the era was known for, this trio is anything but a revisionist band. Mix the cool Nico-esque vocal delivery of Poppy Hankin’s art school lyrics with the flat production of bouncy bass lines, occasional west coast sounding guitar solos, and easy shuffling drums, and you’re beginning to describe the “Kinks-meet-Slits” sounds of Girl Ray (that was Stereogum’s excellent description of the band’s sound). Check out the piano-led “Stupid Things.”