Music Essentials

  • The Orchestra (For Now)

    Plan 75

    The Orchestra (For Now) is a seven-member art-rock band with a live show that looks incredible. If you don’t know them yet you will soon.

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  • Roach — Everything or Nothing EP

    Everything or Nothing

    Roach’s latest EP is a half-dozen sharp and melodic power-pop songs. It’s warm, charismatic and addictive.

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  • Dumbo Tracks — Move with Intention

    Move with Intention

    The second LP from Dumbo Tracks feels like a killer mixtape. It’s dynamic, surprising and slightly chaotic, blurring the lines between indie rock and electronic music.

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  • Fright Years – Still Life EP

    Still Life

    With Still Life, Fright Years is a great addition to the list of bright and energetic female-fronted power-pop bands coming out of Europe right now.

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  • Sophia Stel – Object Permanence

    Object Permanence

    Vancouver’s Sophia Stel makes moody, ephemeral hyperpop music. Her debut EP Object Permanence is an addictive and nostalgic trip.

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  • STARNAMEDSUN

    Eyes Closed

    STARNAMEDSUN seems to take a unique take on jazzy trip-hop. It’s actually much darker and more enigmatic.

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  • SMILE — Hot Friend / Price of Progress

    Hot Friend / Price of Progress

    SMILE hooked me with their raw, noir-ish post-punk single “Hot Friend”, and last year’s Price of Progress is danceable, tense and unpredictable.

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  • Clutter

    Holy Brother / Jesus / Kraut

    Clutter’s trio of noisy, jagged indie rock singles makes for gloriously controlled chaos.

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  • Mood Bored — Too Much?

    Too Much?

    Indie-pop trio Mood Bored’s excellent EP Too Much? serves up grunge-tinged hooks paired with late-night anxiety.

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  • Bimbo – Bimbology

    Bilbology

    Bimbo’s jazz-influenced garage rock blends complicated rhythms and hooky melodies for a killer debut EP.

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  • Truman Sinclair — American Recordings

    American Recordings

    Truman Sinclair’s debut record American Recordings is an essential throwback to classic American music.

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  • Winona Fighter – My Apologies to the Chef

    My Apologies to the Chef

    My apologies to Winona Fighter: I kept waiting to be let down by My Apologies to the Chef. It kept not happening. This is surely one of the most fun punk records of the year.

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