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.
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.
Mike Bones has been a cherished guitarist in New York City’s music scene for years. His band Weak Signal’s second album reinforces this reputation, and includes some of the band’s most well-written work to date. Bianca is a post-punk record that parallels the grit that has controlled his city for decades.
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.
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.
Erykah Badu’s stature in contemporary R&B has been overwhelmingly powerful for over twenty years. In that time, her creativity has evolved in numerous ways, with her second opus arriving through the futuristic magnificence of New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh) (2010). Her fifth record is a glorious homage to her soulful hip-hop roots, and effortlessly ties together all of the most rewarding elements of her iconic legacy.
Chicago producer, Composuresquad, has been a leader in the local DIY nightlife scene for years. He is one of the top sought-after DJ’s in city limits, and has hosted many of the most memorable events that have occurred in the past decade. On the latest edition of “The Junkyard,” Composure sets out to interview Leah and Blake Saint David, two members of a versatile rising collective of DIY artists that are on the verge of re-defining experimental music in the 312.
After years of one-off collaborations, vocalist Trenttruce & multi-instrumentalist Coto Loco team up for their darkwave debut as Black Magick Chocolate Tears. Black Magick Chocolate Tears showcases the intense vocal range of Truce & subtly complex production skills of Coto Loco. Across twelve tracks, the two artists balance out each other’s strengths to a forge a sound that crosses pop music with an ominous after hours disposition.
“Junkyard Cuts: Blue Dawn” is the first linear playlist curation from your trusted auditory guides at Total Trash HQ. Spanning across several years, countries, and fifty total songs, this Spotify Playlist ties ‘70s soul, rock n’ roll, freak folk, and library music together through a common bond of psychedelia. Kick back and give it a listen, and be sure to follow our Spotify account for future related content.
Los Angeles-based garage rocker Grady Strange has a sound that spans across 60 years of psychedelic rock. At a time in which there is a rise in melancholic music created throughout the pandemic, Strange counters the trend with his mesmerizing debut LP, Getting Stranger. The ten track fuzz driven album is an all encompassing trippy journey that recalls a time when lighthearted fun was welcomed as an everyday normalcy.
