Snarls Wear Their Hearts on Their Sleeves on ‘With Love’
There are few things more thrilling in music than hearing a band reach another level of mastery of their craft, and Snarls sound positively inspired on With Love.
Brian Stout
Brian's work has been featured in PopMatters and The Ryder magazine.
Shudder to Think Look Back on 1994’s ‘Pony Express Record’
Shudder to Think’s Pony Express Record is one of the most enduring releases of the 1990s, evergreen for the very reasons it wasn’t a massive hit upon release.
New Transmissions: An Interview with Brainiac’s John Schmersal
With a new book and an upcoming tour, beloved cult band Brainiac are enjoying a resurgence. Lead singer and guitarist John Schmersal discusses this and more.
Superchunk’s ‘Foolish’ Is Genre-Defining Indie Heartbreak
Foolish was Superchunk committing to staying indie amid turmoil, and the scene is better for it. Their discography is filled with iconic singles defining American indie rock.
The Ophelias Get Heavy on ‘Ribbon’
On Ribbon, the Ophelias weave moodiness seamlessly into a short but satisfying song cycle, and hopefully, the louder guitar is here to stay for a while.
Cloud Nothings’ ‘Final Summer’ Is a Masterclass in Indie Rock
Cloud Nothings have delivered record after record of catchy, energetic songs without getting stale or repetitive. Final Summer continues that streak.
METZ Embrace Melody ‘Up on Gravity Hill’
Canadian noise punks go widescreen on their latest to thrilling effect. METZ embrace melody but still bring the noise Up on Gravity Hill.
Kim Gordon’s ‘The Collective’ Is an Addictive Mix of Sounds
Who had Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon making a collection of trunk-rattling near hip-hop and industrial noise on their 2024 bingo card?
Hardcore’s Gouge Away Grow on ‘Deep Sage’
Gouge Away’s Deep Sage delivers heavy hooks that recall 1990s alternative greats without losing that hardcore fury that put them on the map.
Ratboys Seize ‘The Window’ of Opportunity
After breaking through with a lockdown-inspired set of songs, the Ratboys’ “post-country” stylings find a new audience, opening for the Decemberists.
Mary Timony Explores Grief with Clear Eyes on ‘Untame the Tiger’
Rock guitar virtuoso Mary Timony’s Untame the Tiger is a clear–eyed, unsentimental, top-shelf record that emerged during hard times.
Rid of Me’s ‘Access to the Lonely’ Is More Than Hardcore
Rid of Me’s Access to the Lonely is one of the essential hardcore records of the past few months, but it cannot be contained by one genre.