Bat For Lashes : Two Suns
Two Suns' combination of several instruments including piano, harpsichord,
percussion, synth, and twinkling bells make it positively
genre-breaking. Read more... |
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The Big Pink : A Brief History of Love
The Big Pink provide a spark of hope to music junkies,
completely fed up with today’s vacuous and mundane pop stratosphere. Read more... |
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Black Moth Super Rainbow : Eating Us
Psych doesn't get much smoother than this. Read more... |
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Bowerbirds : Upper Air
Another charming addition to the new folk movement. Read more... |
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The Boy Least Likely To : The Law of the Playground
The Boy Least Likely To's The Law of the Playground is the perfect remedy to a bad day. Read more... |
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Brasstronaut : Old World Lies EP
Somewhere in between jazz, piano-man, blues, classical, horns and more lies Brasstronaut on their debut EP, Old World Lies. Read more... |
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Neko Case : Middle Cyclone
Case sets her captivating voice free once again. Read more... |
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The Cinematics : Love and Terror
The Cinematics finally return - right on schedule. Read more... |
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Cracker : Sunrise In the Land of Milk and Honey
The multi-faceted Cracker play it a little straighter towards the alt-rock on their latest, Sunrise In the Land of Milk and Honey. Read more... |
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The Danks : Are You Afraid of The Danks?
Prince Edward Island's own live up to the alt-pop press of their debut EP with their debut LP. Read more... |
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Death Cab for Cutie : The Open Door EP
Death Cab's habit of releasing great bonus EPs continues with The Open Door. Read more... |
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Dinosaur Jr : Farm
The greatest alt-rock reunion of this millenium keeps apace. Read more... |
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Doves : Kingdom of Rust
A little more seasoned and skeptical, Doves return with their darkest album to date. Read more... |
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Drug Rug : Paint the Fence Invisible
Drug Rug have put out a record that earns the critic's praise in Paint the Fence Invisible. Read more... |
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The Decemberists : The Hazards of Love
Combining a taste for theatrics with an astounding command over the
English language, Colin Meloy has weaved tales ranging from the life of
a sea-faring mariner to Japanese folk tales. Read more... |
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Electric Tickle Machine : Blew It Again
A wild party garage-rock band that actually releases a good record?!? Read more... |
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Fanfarlo : Reservoir
It's almost impossible for one not to
instantly fall in love with Fanfarlo's Reservoir.
Read more... |
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Benjamin Gibbard & Jay Farrar : One Fast Move Or I'm Gone
The frontmen of Death Cab for Cutie & Son Volt team up to soundtrack the new Kerouac documentary. Read more... |
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The Features : Some Kind of Salvation
Southern alt-rock shall rise again, thanks to The Features' Some Kind of Salvation. Read more... |
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The Felice Brothers : Yonder Is the Clock
The Felice Brothers are establishing themselves as the go-to band in roots Americana rock. Read more... |
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R. Garcia : I Used To Write On Walls & Other New York City Stories
The prolific Randy Garcia lets his instruments do the talking as 'R. Garcia'. Read more... |
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Girls : Album
Album masterfully encapsulates the
relaxed and carefree lifestyle of California, but underneath is a
fragile, darker side. Read more... |
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Harlem Shakes : Technicolor Health
Harlem Shakes are worth the wait as the grow and grow in their highly-anticipated Technicolor Health. Read more... |
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Grant Hart : Hot Wax
After ten years of no new material, the icon of melody & punk hasn't changed a bit. Read more... |
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Hooray For Earth : Momo EP
Hooray For Earth change their attitude without having to change their sound.
Read more... |
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I Monster : A Dense Swarm of Ancient Stars
Quirky electro-art rockers release their first album since 2003. Read more... |
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Illinois : The Adventures of Kid Catastrophe, Chapter Four
The prolific Illinois mix things up a bit on the fourth installment of The Adventures of Kid Catastrophe. Read more... |
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Illinois : The Adventures of Kid Catastrophe, Chapter Five
As Illinois near the end of their massive six EP Adventures of Kid Catastrophe, they’re combining song styles more and more. Read more... |
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Illinois : The Adventures of Kid Catastrophe, Chapter Six
The final chapter of Illinois’ epic The Adventures of Kid Catastrophe is its best. Read more... |
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Illinois : The Adventures of Kid Catastrophe (Deluxe Edition)
It all comes together in the deluxe edition of the epic Adventures of Kid Catastrophe. Read more... |
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Iran : Dissolver
After seven years, Iran returns without the buzz & crackle, but with the complexity underneath, in Dissolver. Read more... |
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The Jaguar Club : And We Wake Up Slowly
Something interesting, original & familiar this way comes from Brooklyn. Read more... |
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Norah Jones : The Fall
Welcome to the new Norah
Jones. Read more... |
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Jones Street Station : In Verses
New Americana doesn't have to be alt- to be great. Read more... |
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Ladyhawke : Ladyhawke (Special Edition)
Multi-continental synth-dance hit Ladyhawke finally comes to the States. Read more... |
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Land of Talk : Fun and Laughter EP
Fun and Laughter reminds you why you fell in love with Land of Talk in the first place. Read more... |
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Shaney Kedar : Acid Tongue
Shany Kedar effortlessly proves her lineage in seven spare songs of
human suffering and nubile insistence. Read more... |
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Malajube : Labyrinthes
Seriously sexy alt-rock blossoms in Montreal. Read more... |
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The Mars Volta : Octahedron
The Mars Volta have produced a record so fresh, consistent and clear,
that every time you hear it, you are taken with them on a journey. Read more... |
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Matt & Kim : Grand
Brooklyn's break-through duo Matt & Kim second full-length Grand is exactly that. Read more... |
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John Mayer : Battle Studies
One of the most popular guitarists of his time
takes quite a different approach from previous records.
Read more... |
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Mew : No More Stories/Are Told Today/I'm Sorry/They Washed Away//No More Stories/The World Is Grey/I'm Tired/Let's Wash Away
Simply put: one of the most powerful and artistic rock albums of the year. Read more... |
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Middle Distance Runner : The Sun & Earth
Middle Distance Runner’s latest is a brilliant collection of shiny,
compact jewels. Read more... |
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Monsters of Folk : Monsters of Folk
Four of the most acclaimed voices in alt-folk team up to make the biggest supergroup since The Travelling Wilburys. Read more... |
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Muse : The Resistance
Stadium rock at its most dangerous? Read more... |
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The Naked Hearts : These Knees EP
Amy Cooper and Noah Wheeler combine a lot on their debut as The Naked Hearts, These Knees EP. Read more... |
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Marissa Nalder : Little Hells
Marissa Nadler's backing sounds reach the level of her voice on Little Hells. Read more... |
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The Nerd Parade : Span of a Life
The Nerd Parade's jam moves a little bit more in formation with their wide-Spaning latest. Read more... |
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1990s : Kicks
Glasgow’s 1990s still know what it
takes to produce a record that is not dependent on commercial radio
overplaying one track. Read more... |
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Noah & The Whale : The First Days of Spring
The band's second album exudes pure intimacy. Read more... |
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Ola Podrida : Belly of the Lion
David Wingo's strum builds into emotional power on his second release as Ola Podrida. Read more... |
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Parkas : You Should Have Killed Us When You Had The Chance
You Should Have gotten to know Canada's Parkas When You Had The Chance. Read more... |
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Paul & The Patients : To the Lions EP
This strong debut deserves attention for Paul Holmes and his Patients. Read more... |
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Phil & The Osophers : Parallelo
Enjoy garage done by someone who enjoys it, Phil & The Osophers. Read more... |
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Grant-Lee Phillips : Little Moon
Grant-Lee goes back to the nineteenth century on his latest, Little Moon. Read more... |
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Phoenix : Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
French lounge-pop vets deliver another engaging effort. Read more... |
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The Picture : Bluebirds EP
On Bluebirds EP, New York’s The Picture let emotion into their
indie-rock without going emo, as well as make it grand without being
overbearing. Read more... |
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Plushgun : Pins and Panzers
Daniel Ingala can make even the most high school of subjects work with his indietronica. Read more... |
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The Postmarks : Memoirs At the End of the World
Quite possibly the smoothest album of the year. Read more... |
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R.E.M. : Reckoning - Deluxe Edition
There was no sophomore slump with R.E.M.'s Reckoning, now out in a deluxe edition. Read more... |
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Röyksop : Junior
Look out: the duo really, really steps up their game here. Read more... |
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The Rural Alberta Advantage : Hometowns
The Rural Alberta Advantage continues Canada's impressive alt-legacy. Read more... |
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Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions : Through the Devil Softly
The softest voice of the last twenty years is back. Read more... |
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The Seedy Seeds : Count the Days
If American/alt-country and indietronica crashed into each other and washed away the
pretenders, we'd likely find the Seedy Seeds as the last band left standing. Read more... |
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Charles Spearin : The Happiness Project
Charles Spearin of Broken Social Scene and Do Make Say Think gets even more unusual and compelling with his Happiness Project. Read more... |
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Regina Spektor : Far
In following up her break through success of Begin To Hope, pop virtuosa Regina Spektor straddles extremes and turns them into a devastatingly beautiful genre contradiction.
Read more... |
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Bruce Springsteen : Working On a Dream
The Year of The Boss continues with his successfully varied latest. Read more... |
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stellastarr* : Civilized
Everything you loved about stellastarr* is finally back on Civilized. Read more... |
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Taken By Trees : East of Eden
Victoria Bergsman outdoes herself on her second solo effort. Read more... |
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These United States : Everything Touches Everything
These United States get even better & more fun on their latest, Everything Touches Everything. Read more... |
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The Twang : Love It When I Feel Like This (U.S.)
The U.K.'s The Twang get a proper U.S. release, with choice bonus tracks, of their debut, Love It When I Feel Like This. Read more... |
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The Vaselines : Enter The Vaselines
As they embark on a short reunion tour, Kurt Cobain's favorite alt-pop act put out another complete compilation. Read more... |
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Vulture Whale : Vulture Whale II
Southern fried alt-country rock gets fun with Vulture Whale's second self-titled LP. Read more... |
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The xx : xx
The overall feeling of xx
is neither its bleakness nor its idealism, but the complete and utter
excellence of its musical judgment. Read more... |
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War Child : Heroes
UK charity War Child releases another all-star affair. Read more... |
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White Rabbits : It's Frightening
A focus on percussion takes the dancehall stomp of White Rabbits' debut
and makes it spooky and more accomplished on their follow-up, It's Frightening. Read more... |
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Wilco : Wilco (The Album)
The definition of alt-country returns: Wilco (The Wilco). Read more... |
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Yo La Tengo : Popular Songs
There's a reason Yo La Tengo is a classic critic's fave - a good reason. Read more... |
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M. Ward returns to his solo work more upbeat on Hold Time.
More...