Mourning the death of a close friend or a treasured artist can be a extremely difficult, and it is even harder when the person you lost is both. But a loss that severe can make everything more clear, and can remind you why you are even here.

A dynamic protest song from Nervus, a night drive anthem from rapper K.J. Sturkey, and a slowcore album from Oh, Yes that goes in unexpected directions were among our staff's favorites from last week. Check out all eight new releases that we deem 'must-hear':

MIGHTY kicked off 2021 with an intriguing EP, You Deal With the Trash, a creative mix of polish and grit. The EP’s lead track, “Red Wrapped Thread,” is a great encapsulation of this sound.

On her new album, Ian Sweet's Jilian Medford delivers dream-pop that's as dazzling as it is cathartic.

It’s impossible to listen to Nervous Dater's new record Call in the Mess without feeling the need to be immersed in a crowd, screaming every line back.

Michelle Bruton talked to Tigers Jaw vocalist Brianna Collins about their new album, I Won’t Care How You Remember Me, the band's rich history of iconic cover art, working with producer Will Yip, and how it feels to be continuing this band 15 years into their career. Read her in-depth profile.

On 'Pool,' Aaron Maine’s hyper-aestheticism fundamentally shifted an entire generation's counterculture. In this edition of It Holds Up, Ted Davis revisits Porches landmark sophomore album.

The Details is our video series in which Molly Mary O’Brien interviews an artist about five special details from a recent musical release. The latest episode features singer-songwriter Fenne Lily, whose 2020 album Breach, her first for Dead Oceans, survived not one but two disastrous data-loss incidents (broken phone, stolen laptop) during the writing process.

There’s been an influx of budding songwriters in the last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic forcing everyone to stay inside and take a hard look at themselves. One of those burgeoning musicians is Kyle Constable, a first time songwriter out of Hartford, CT who is debuting his first album, 'Going Home'.

Buffalo’s Fernway have been churning out catchy alternative, jazz-laden emo for a few years now, and their new single “Mountain Climber” takes their distinct sound to new highs. The track has a bouncy feel as whirling synth lines and 80s guitar riffs weave in and out.