The Alt Weekly Roundup (5/3)
Posted: by The Editor
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.
Aweful Kanawful—Much Much Nice
Aweful Kanawful is the project of Rochester, NY songwriter Austin Lake, who’s been putting out records since 2014. His latest, Much Much Nice, is a freewheeling medley of warm soul, early post-punk, and Deep Purple-esque rock and fucking roll. Although Lake is making throwback music (all of his reference points are pre-1980), these songs are vibrant, well-crafted, and refreshingly not self-serious. Shake, shimmy, repeat.
Eli Enis | @eli_enis
Commonwealth Choir—”Light”
Commonwealth Choir recently signed to the perpetually underappreciated Know Hope Records, and their first release for the label is the single “Light.” It’s appropriately titled, being a breezy and light alt rock song perfect for spring.
Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison
Tired Records—Pick of the Lot!
A lot of great compilations came out this week, maybe having something to do with Bandcamp waiving their fees last Friday, and I had a great time listening to a few of them and discovering some great new bands. This Tired Records comp features 8 Singaporean bands covering songs from the other bands on the collection. Pick of the Lot! is a really great mix of emo, math rock, and shoegaze (I especially recommend the massive Cosmic Child song that closes out the comp).
Jordan Walsh | @jordalsh
Surf Rock is Dead—Existential Playboy
Surf Rock is Dead released a crisp, intricate album in line with acts like Beach Fossils and Surf Curse. Their band name is ostensibly ironic, considering the heavy surf rock presence in their music. “Away Message,” one of the record’s best songs, shows how meeting someone new can feel like an adventure.
Bineet Kaur | @hellobineet
Missed Out Records—a comp. for quarantine
This is another great compilation from the small PA label Missed Out Records. A Comp for Quarantine features a great medley of screamo and math-adjacent bands, many bristling with catharsis and even a dose of nostalgia. Take highlight “He Was an Artist, She Was a Carpenter” from the (hilariously named) Subrome with Lime, which bursts forth with a call-and response that would make Tell All Your Friends-era Taking Back Sunday proud. They absolutely nail that aggressive/melodic dynamic.
Jordan Walsh | @jordalsh
Fake Names—”Fake Names”
If you knew the members of Fake Names played in classic hardcore bands like Refused, Minor Threat, and Embrace, you not might expect the band to be so melodic. However, “Being Them” is a stellar pop-punk track that sounds like it could’ve soundtracked your favorite Tony Hawk game growing up.
Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison
Joshua Virtue—Jackie’s House
Chicago rapper Joshua Virtue put Jackie’s House together in the early weeks of quarantine, but make no mistake, this album does not play out like a rush job. Jackie’s House richly fills every corner of sonic space that it possibly can in an invigorating, but never overwhelming fashion. Songs like “Fenti Face” are gorgeously layered, Virtue’s conversational verses betraying a sweet longing in the face of our current circumstances (“maybe 6 or 7 feet away/and I’m saving your life”).
Jordan Walsh | @jordalsh
The Alternative’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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