“I can’t avoid the haze,” sings The Shacks’ Shannon Wise in the opening track of the band’s new record, Haze, as her breathy voice emanates with tender nonchalance. It’s as if she is leaning forward to share a secret—a not-so-well-kept secret, as Wise and bandmate Max Shrager have been setting the scene ablaze since their…
The Lonely Biscuits are no stranger to funky guitar riffs, quirky love songs and Napoleon Dynamite vibes. The Universe in You, the indie-rock band’s latest album, is no exception to these characteristics. With its upcoming March 30th release, you’re going to want to crank this one up for the upcoming sunshine and warm weather. The…
When I think of O Summer, I think of passion and the pursuit of dreams, of strength and sophistication, and of brilliance and boldness. I think of an indie-rock crew of fearless pals destined to change the world, and a circle of down-to-earth, funky friends who never miss an opportunity for a snack break at…
OG Asheville band Toubab Krewe is breaking their seven-year studio silence with Stylo, their new album set for release on March 2nd. Again, no words are needed as West African polyrhythmic melodies produced by instruments such as the Kora and Kamele n’goni are partnered with hypnotic beats from a traditional drum set and other African-centric…
Nostalgia in pop culture is at a current all-time high. Social division and unbridled technological advancement runs rampant, and has left many longing for something that feels familiar–for something safe, warm and comforting, something easily agreed upon and easily understood, a shared sense of time and place we can confide in to lift spirits as…
From beginning to end, there is something familiar—almost comfortingly so—about Uncle, Duke & the Chief, the latest offering from Toronto-based rockers Born Ruffians. The band may be returning to its original trio form for the first time since its 2015 album, Birthmarks, but there is no mistaking the Ruffians’ sound. Bursting with acoustic guitar riffs…
Will Varley – Spirit Of Minnie Today, UK-based folkster Will Varley released Spirit Of Minnie, his fifth studio album and first recorded with a backing band. Sweeping, yet subdued strings provide gauzy atmosphere around his delicate, acoustic finger-picking on some tracks, while others are fortified with keys, percussion, and yearning steel guitar. Whatever the…
With grey skies and chilly winds serving as a constant reminder that it’s still winter, The Wombats come roaring forward with enough catchy riffs and waves of high-energy synth to thwart the bleakness of the season’s five o’clock sunsets. While a close listen to the lyrics on the band’s new album Beautiful People Will Ruin…
As their name implies, Wild Child jumps into a performance of reckless abandon rounded out by seasoned, mature restraint with Expectations, their fourth album, set for release on February 9th via Dualtone Records. This record is a departure from their norm; they pull influences for a myriad of sources, embrace their moniker, and take a walk…
Inara George – Dearest Everybody Today, singer-songwriter Inara George released Dearest Everybody, her first solo album in almost a decade, a deeply personal collection of songs that she didn’t intend to make into an album–but we’re so glad she did. Intricate instrumentation and whimsical arrangments compel us to listen, not just hear, as we hang on every…
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