“Cowboy in Montmartre” by Western Threads: Impossible to Predict in the Best Way
When you’re an American abroad, you take care to mind your manners and avoid looking like the Ugly American. You follow any directions you may have been given, you studiously avoid the restaurants and attractions that might be considered touristy, and if you were abroad at any point within the past four years you avoided […]
Is Tropical on “Hummingbird,” Off-Kilter Pop, and Performing in Mongolia
“Alternative pop” has always been difficult to define, mostly because pop itself is difficult to define. Pop, after all, is characterized by what music is popular at a given moment, which means it’s more fluid than most other genres: if a Lingua Ignota song topped the Hot 100, the definition of pop would at least […]
“Indifferent” by Sarah Cicero: Bittersweet Indie Pop
Sarah Cicero pulls some heartstrings that we can all feel in her latest single, “Indifferent.” With the understanding of the pain that comes from someone not only falling out of love with you, but reaching a point where they feel nothing, Cicero harnesses that into a song colored with soft melodies, melancholic tones, a blues-like […]
Titi Woo Grapples with Grief and the Afterlife on “To All Who’s Out There”
If you knew you had limited time left on the earth, what would you feel? How would you think? What would you like to say? One half of the duo Titi Woo, which is made up of twin brothers from Russia, Jody and David, lays out at least the answer to the last question in […]
“Man of Action” by Anguid: A Sax-Laden Take on Privilege
If you haven’t been hiding away from the world, you probably know about privilege politics in the United States. As more people learn about injustice and inequality, many folks from privileged backgrounds are faced with this personal reckoning: how can I hold myself responsible? Anguid’s January release “Man of Action” turns that question over in […]
Flashback: Pinegrove Pulls Us in Deep with “Cadmium”
Pinegrove takes inspiration from a red square in an envelope, and starts a deeper conversation about communication, and the ways in which we share our feelings. This New Jersey band hits hard, both in subject matter and sound. Their Indie rock style is sometimes labeled as “emo” due to their raw, deep reaching lyrics, and […]
Winter Beach’s “When You’re Ready”: Home is Where the Heartache Is
In Chuck Palahniuk’s 2007 novel Rant, there is a scene in which one of the characters voices his opinion on the place that small towns occupy in our collective imagination, particularly in the minds of those born and raised in such locales. He says that “the big reason why folks leave a small town, is […]
Brother James’ “Every Day With You” Shows Real Love Is Delicate and Unbreakable
Justin James Sinclair, better known as Brother James, gets down on one knee with his new single “Every Day With You”. It is not easy to be vulnerable, but Sinclair fastens his heart to his sleeve and picks up a guitar. The bare-bones composition – built by both gentle guitar and voice – mirrors delicate […]
Carly Opacic’s “Luna”: Shimmering Art Pop
Self-proclaimed grunge hippie and California native Carly Opacic continues her journey into the indie domain with a promising release of her song “Luna.” Upon listening, I’m greeted with glittery instrumentals, dreamy lyrics, and the chiming upper register of the Nashville-based artist’s vocals. Collectively, these features create a whimsical and glowing blend of sound. Its trajectory […]
Arbor Green on “Margaret,” Musical Parents, and the Last Gig of 2020
The brainchild of Ali Begg, Arbor Green was formed with the intention of creating songs whose sound is reminiscent of alternative indie and folk bands from North America. Of course, the band’s sound also invokes images of their native lands of Edinburgh and Glasgow. Their new single, “Margaret,” is no exception. As soon as the […]
