“Psycho” by small town sci-fi: Accepting What You Cannot Change
A little over a minute into “Psycho,” a short but impactful new song by the psych-folk duo small town sci-fi (all lowercase,) we hear the song’s title. “Psycho, they call us psycho, because we couldn’t talk the same,” vocalist Anthony sings. (The two members are referred to as only Kim and Anthony in supplemental material.) […]
Mountain Mansion on “Fog Walker of Copton Ridge,” Being a Fire Watcher, and Suspiria
I’ve found myself increasingly attracted to stories of the paranormal these days: ghost stories, UFO sightings, mysterious disappearances. They don’t have to be scary–in fact, I’m something of a baby when it comes to horror–but the fantastical stories themselves are enough to draw me in. I don’t care if they’re true, because the truth is […]
Joshua Powell on “Sad Boy at the Skeleton Party,” Guitar Solos, and NPR Ambitions
There are so many flavors of indie rock that it’s hard to say you “miss” any one kind of it, because there’s almost certainly a dozen Bandcamp pages that can scratch any itch you have. But as the dominant strains of indie rock have grown more dreamy (your Beach Houses, your Real Estates) and/or more […]
“A Lot To Ask” by Boy Scouts: An Honest Look at Low Self-Esteem
I’m afraid of conflict. I’m afraid of even the perception of conflict. I am always apologizing, always walking on tiptoes when I talk, always peppering my speech with “if it’s not any trouble”s and “so long as you’re OK with it”s. I don’t want to make anyone upset, and I especially don’t want to make […]
Constant Follower’s Stephen McAll on “The Merry Dancers on TV”
During the summer between my junior and senior years of college, I spent a month studying abroad at the University of Stirling in Scotland. It was the first time I had been in a foreign country by myself, and I fell in love the same way every student studying abroad falls in love. (I made […]
Christopher Paul Stelling on “Driving The Hearse” and Finding Comfort in the Gloaming
Death is the ultimate reminder of mankind’s limitations. We can get starry-eyed about endless possibilities and throw around bromides like “if you can dream it, you can do it,” but the fact is that there are some things we simply cannot do, and there are facts of existence that we can’t dream or invent or […]
Deborah Stokol on Literature, Art, and “I Had a Long Convalescence…”
Deborah Stokol is the kind of artist I wish to be: someone who synthesizes their various interests and preoccupations into a fruitful, prolific career. Stokol is passionate about art, literature, and music across history, as is evident from her adaptation of one of the Canterbury Tales into a sprawling prog-folk fantasia. On her new song, […]
Ryan Cassata on “Guard Rail,” Queer Art, and Long Island
When we last checked in with the Long Island-raised and LA-based Ryan Cassata, a multi-talented songwriter and activist, he had just released “California Woman,” a stripped-down acoustic number with an effortless sense of vintage rock-star cool. Never one to settle down and stick with one sound, Cassata has released several other songs since then, with […]
“The Pigeon” by The Ampersands: A Humble Bird as a Metaphor
I live on Long Island, which means I don’t really see pigeons very often. The winged pest of choice here is the seagull, a dirty-feathered maniac of a bird who craves boardwalk french fries but, failing that, will settle for your blood. I only see pigeons when I have cause to go into the city, […]
“Loveland Pass” by Lionlimb: Mental Health’s Long, Rocky Road
No two panic attacks are the same. I’ve had more than a few in my life: I’m on the autism spectrum, which either causes or enhances my naturally anxious, sensitive disposition. Some of them came on suddenly, while others simmered for an afternoon and boiled over in the evening. Some of them were brought on […]
