Paint it Clear (2021)
Over the past 4 years, Alien Nosejob has proved to be one of the most dynamic artists across Australia’s expansive DIY punk scene. After exploring two very different sides of the genre last year, the one man band returns with a focus in synth-driven power-pop. Paint it Clear is both a shift and evolution for Alien Nosejob, proving that the multi instrumentalist has a reach that continues to extend far beyond one style.
Coto and the Plagues (2021)
Los Angeles trio, Coto and the Plagues, initially united around a passion for lo-fi horror films. While the band’s eleven track debut rarely makes direct reference to any element of cinematic history, their music parallels the dark mood of horror culture’s massive timeline. Coto and the Plagues recalls the peak of goth rock and new-wave as though it were straight out of a 1980’s slasher film.
Hidemi (2021)
Jazz saxophonist, Patrick Shiroishi, has created a career exploring the history of Asian-American oppression. On his latest album, Hidemi, Shiroishi delivers one of his most personal albums to date, with a focus on his grandparents and their time spent in a Japanese internment camp circa World War II. Hidemi incorporates the healing power of spiritual jazz as Shiroishi travels through his family’s resilient history.
Riddles From the Universe (2021)
Over the past five years, the Cowboy have gradually tightened their musicianship as they refine their formula for fast-paced post-punk. On Riddles from the Universe, the band’s consistency is their strongest trait, with their most compelling songs to date.
Live & Contagious (2021)
For fifteen years, Nat Brower has gradually created an eclectic catalog of solo tunes, ranging from lo-fi garage rock to his more recent glam rock revival ballads. On Live & Contagious, Brower takes his recent years to a “live” setting, and delivers a career-spanning forty minute set.
WEWEREFRIENDS (2021)
On WEWEREFRIENDS, experimental noise mastermind RXM Reality shifts his sound from extreme abrasiveness and replaces it with drawn out layered vocals and cohesive song writing. It’s his second album of the year, and reveals an unexpected emotional and more human side of his unique compositions.
The Golden Age of… (2021)
On German quintet Lassie’s latest compilation, the post-punk group take the increasing popularity of ‘Devocore’ to Leipzig and add a layer of technicality to the eclectic microgenre. The Golden Age of… collects fifteen of the band’s previously released recordings and refurbishes them with a new name, new album art, and freshly pressed physical cassette tapes.
The Heart Pumps Kool-Aid (2021)
As fentanyl-based opiate use tears through middle America, overdoses and death have become everyday occurrences for certain cities and towns. On The Heart Pumps Kool-Aid, experimental composers More Eaze & Seth Graham join forces as —-___—___, and use elements of harsh noise and understated ambient soundscapes to work through the tragedy that accompanies the current drug epidemic.
Soup for My Family (2021)
After years of developing a reputation as a powerful live act, LYSOL deliver their first full-length album, Soup for My Family. The Seattle-based punk band tear through eleven tracks on their debut, and even when they shift their stylistic approach, their sound never loses its overall focus. Soup for My Family feels long overdue, but proves LYSOL’S presence in DIY music extends far beyond your local punk house’s basement.
Hidden Treasure (2021)
Knowledge the Pirate has been an integral face throughout the progression of Roc Marciano’s game-changing career. In that time, he has also released a collection of solo records that gradually push him closer to an overdue reputation as a compelling solo artist. Pirate’s latest, Hidden Treasure, centers around decades immersed in the depths of New York’s streets, delivering lyrics with more conviction and wisdom than ever before.