Posted: by The Alt Editing Staff
The Alternative Weekly Roundup is a column where our staff plugs a variety of new releases in a concise, streamlined format. Albums, singles, videos, and live sets. Check back each Monday to see what we were jamming the week prior.
Gleemer – “Half Smile”
The last time we heard from Gleemer was two years ago with the gorgeously emotive EP Here at All. Their newest single “Half Smile” shows off the alternative rock band’s consistency and ability to write melodically mesmerizing tracks as it slowly builds up into a weighty meditation with vocalist Corey Coffman belting out, “Emotions real to the world will hide in plain sight” like one Ben Gibbard. The Colorado band’s upcoming album End of the Nail is slated for an early December release through Other People Records and is entirely self-produced by Corey Coffman and Charlie O’Neil.
Loan Pham | @x_loanp
Liquid Mike – “Crop Circles”
Liquid Mike is back, and I couldn’t be happier with their new track. “Crop Circles” is a fuzzed out, working-class power pop gem that I can’t stop listening to.
Jami Fowler | @audiocurio
Adeline Hotel – Whodunnit
My introduction to Adeline Hotel was Hot Fruit, their rootsy, masterful acoustic- and pedal steel-based jazz-informed instrumental LP. Less than a year later, the Brooklyn project is back with their seventh full-length. Whodunnit returns to Adeline Hotel’s roots: stark, tender indie folk music held together by Dan Knishkowy’s soft and conversational vocals. It’s clearly a direct follow-up to Hot Fruit, though; these songs are deeply, richly textured, far more than a genre label would convey. The crackly, jazzy “Grief” is a perfect example; stabs of piano and noisy, jittery percussion threaten to interrupt and overtake Knishkowy, but he just keeps singing on: “This taste of life is all mine.”
Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison
Origami Angel – Feeling Not Found
This whole Origami Angel project is starting to get absurd at this point—they just seem incapable of dropping a dud. I’ve written hyperbolically before about how great a band they are, highlighting their combo of oh-so-catchy melodies and tasteful, in-the-pocket shredding. All of that is both present and refined on Feeling Not Found, a record that’s arguably their best yet (this coming from someone with incredibly strong feelings about Somewhere City and The Brightest Days). Trying to pick a favorite tune on this record is like trying to fight the proverbial Hydra: each time you think you got one nailed down another one pops up, demanding your attention. Is it the smooth-as-silk falsetto and rake picking on “Underneath My Skin”? You can’t forget about that filthy guitar solo on “Where Blue Light Blooms,” or the beyond-ecstatic energy of “Wretched Trajectory,” or the fierce attack of “Sixth Cents (Get It?).” The more I run the record back, though, the more it’s the closing title track that stands out. That opening riff is just incredible, and Gami doesn’t let that energy dip once over the course of four minutes, even throwing a false ending to the record with a brief pause before ripping to a soaring ‘70s-style guitar solo to take things out.
Aaron Eisenreich | @slobboyreject
Balance and Composure – “with you in spirit”
Balance and Composure’s final single “with you in spirit” off their upcoming fourth album of the same title is one of their most straightforward tracks since they first announced the album this past spring. It delves into the moody atmosphere the Philly rock band are well known for and surrenders itself to overwhelming guilt and despair while a haunting melody rings out beneath it. The album officially comes out this Friday through Memory Music and is undoubtedly about to be one of best releases of the year.
Loan Pham | @x_loanp
New Age Thief – “Bleeding Out”
New Age Thief’s new single “Bleeding Out” is the darkest song on their upcoming album, an aggressive look at human nature that had me beating my steering wheel while listening on my way to work. I can’t get enough of this kind of emo (think Jimmy Eat World with a darker edge) and I’m stoked to hear the whole album next month!
Jami Fowler | @audiocurio
Blankenberge – “New Rules”
Since 2016 Blankenberge has been reliably cranking out some excellent shoegaze. Their ethos isn’t too far off from the original wave of UK gazers: what if a great pop rock song was overdriven beyond recognition? “New Rules,” the first single from their as yet unannounced fourth LP, is a case in point. It’s a no-frills shoegaze track, energetic and loud as hell, that coats Yana Guselnikova’s voice under piles of snow, only enough so that the hook can peek out.
Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison
The Alternative’s ‘New Music Friday’ playlist
Each week we compile a playlist of songs our staff has been jamming. We post it on Fridays on Twitter and then include it in each edition of the Weekly Roundup to make sure you don’t miss any of the great music we’re recommending.
The Alternative is 100% supported by our readers. If you’d like to help us write about more great music and keep our site going, you can become a Patron on Patreon, which also allows you to receive extra content, sweet perks, and The Alternative merch, with levels starting at only $2 per month. Everything helps, and if you can’t afford to donate, consider sharing this article and spreading the word about our site! Either way, thanks for reading!