The Alt Weekly Roundup (5/24)
Posted: by The Editor
The Popdosemagazine 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.
Lakes – “Start Again”
Lakes announced their new LP Start Again this week and shared the record’s perky and beaming title track. Their 2019 debut The Constance LP solidified their sound with a very good collection of frictionless emo, but “Start Again” finds Lakes continuing to refine, their charming bells and whistles (and handclaps) making the song feel almost Steel Train-esque. It’s a great start for the new album, out July 30.
Jordan Walsh | @jordalsh
Sinai Vessel – “Swimming”
“Swimming” might not have made it onto Sinai Vessel’s last LP Ground Aswim, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t stack up to that album’s best. The gorgeous folk song can go toe to toe with anything the North Carolina project’s ever released.
Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison
Just Friends – JF Crew Vol. 2
The Just Friends crew is back -–Thank You Based God. JF Crew Vol. 2 exploded into my headphones this week, bursting with a mashup of styles. The three track EP has two original tracks, “Sizzle” and “Stupid”, the latter featuring funk horns and a verse by Lil B himself. A cover of No Doubt’s “Hella Good” wraps the EP up, and it’s loud, messy, and sounds nothing like the original. That’s a compliment – the infectious energy is too hot to handle.
Madison Van Houten | @madisonvanhalen
KJ Sturkey – “Dial Tone”
KJ Sturkey’s newest drop “Dial Tone” is a glossy trip full of smooth deliveries, sticky flows, and a hook that doesn’t just become an earworm for the rest of the day but offers a sweet aftertaste that is hard not to come back for. Also, I have to admit singing along to the lyrics “No time for peace, only for peace of mind. I got a large plate, can’t no one get a piece of mine. Please don’t call my phone. You’ll get the dial tone” while driving down a breezy summer highway, mind set on taking back control of my life, radiates more power than you would think. It’s impressive how I’ve yet to hear a bad song come out of him. Watch this space.
Hope Ankney | @hope_ankleknee
niiice. – “Born to Run”
I believed for a long time that no one should ever cover Springsteen, let alone “Born to Run.” But niiice. just did it and I’ve got to say they nailed it. You can’t do much better than the boss, but the Minnesota trio did just about as well as anyone possibly could.
Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison
Fridge Poetry – Half the Battle
This Fridge Poetry EP slipped through my radar when it came out in March, but I definitely feel it’s better late than never to shout out this really nice collection of songs. The solo project of Junior Laidley, Fridge Poetry is a much lower key and smoothed-out affair than his other work with Johnny Foreigner and Yr Poetry. This bedroom-produced record holds a surprising depth, with songs like the sentimental “Holding On” and the hooky “Lights O&O” feeling big and expansive.
Jordan Walsh | @jordalsh
The Linda Lindas – “Racist Sexist Boy”
Earlier this week, a video of four girls playing punk rock in a library went viral. The Linda Linda’s “Racist Sexist Boy” was written after 14 year old drummer Mila had a run in with – you guessed it – a racist, sexist boy. They channeled their rage into the performance, which is truthfully one of the coolest things I’ve seen this year; it’s Bikini Kill for 2021 ears and eyes. As of this writing, they’ve signed with Epitaph Records, so here’s to more of The Linda Linda’s calling out misogynists when they see them.
Madison Van Houten | @madisonvanhalen
Avind – Ta Sjansen
Tonje Tafjord’s long been one of the most interesting songwriters of her generation, and Ta Sjansen keeps up the trend. Avind’s sophomore LP is a delightful slice of soft indie rock that fans of Nada Surf and Death Cab should fall in love with.
Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison
Bad Luck – “ROY”
Nothing like a classic, pop-punk ripper to kick off the summer, courtesy of Bad Luck. “ROY” bounces joyfully through a slight existential crisis and the realization that what you’ve been doing for so long may not be working anymore. Frontman Dominick Fox wails lines like, “I can’t take pills so I smoke pot and Living a life to fucking work a job/Stay up watch TV all night long.” All in all, sounds pretty similar to the therapy sessions myself and my twenty-something friends are all having.
Madison Van Houten | @madisonvanhalen
Vundabar – “Aphasia” b/w “Ringing Bell
The new Vundabar single is everything the Boston band does best. The title track is a solemn rocker that erupts into a chorus of “do dos” while the b-side is a slinky indie song that recalls some of the more slippery material off Cymbals Eat Guitars’ Lose.
Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison
The Popdosemagazine’s ‘New Music Friday’ playlist
Each week our editor Lindsy Carrasquillo compiles a playlist of songs our staff has been jamming. We’ll post it on Fridays on Twitter and then include it in each edition of the ‘Weekly Roundup’ to make sure you don’t miss all of the great music we’re recommending.
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