In 2020, Evan Weiss is no longer interested in being Mayor of Emo City. What the solo musician is interested in doing, however, with his first full-length album since 2016’s Standards is learning how collaboration can take his songwriting to another plane.

Three years after 2017’s Feel Something, the mood is heavier on Movements' new album, but the sentiment is the same: “I feel so fucked / At least I’m feeling,” vocalist Patrick Miranda belts in the opening track. Check out Michelle's discussion with the band about their upcoming LP.

Over more than 2 decades, Laura Stevenson has perfected landing just the right note in her songwriting, nailing a point so visceral and deeply felt that it makes you feel weak at the knees. With the approaching reissue of one of those landmark albums, now seems like the perfect time to take a look back at some of Stevenson's best tracks.

Premiering "Projector", the 4th single from Elder Brother's upcoming album. The song is a throwback to classic ‘90s bands like Oasis or Third Eye Blind, but it’s jangly and breezy enough to be recognizably Elder Brother’s own.

From the moment one flips on Land of Talks’ new record, Indistinct Conversations, a wave of humanity washes over them. The album is all about the healing process, even acting as an extension of the air of recovery and determination that was felt all throughout previous project Life After Youth.

The band’s latest single is slow-paced and reflective, but the song’s got some bite to it. Each successive chorus adds a bit more crunch until the song takes itself apart piece by piece in its dwindling outro. Check out Zac's review of the new Pale Lungs' single.

As 2020 has continued to wreak havoc upon everyone’s plans, Knuckle Puck decided to double down on their instincts and put out an album of poppy, positive pop punk bangers. Michelle spoke with them about the delayed release of the record and their upcoming live streamed release show.

The Alt’s Bookshelf is a series where our staff highlights some of their favorite books and zines related to music. For our fifth volume, Jordan shares new reads including Cult Musicians by Robert Dimery, Total F*cking Godhead: The Biography of Chris Cornell by Corbin Reiff, and Glitter Up the Dark How Pop Music Broke the Binary by Sasha Geffen.

Merce Lemon seems poised to break out of the once insular, now spotlit world of Pittsburgh’s music scene. Their debut for Darling Records, Moonth, sees them growing; they haven’t lost the open-mindedness that centered their early releases, but aren’t taken over by the high profile sound they now carry.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned during quarantine, it’s to be gentle with myself. And that’s exactly what rei brown’s single “Bubble” is: a soft, airy tune that’s uplifting and kind to the soul. 

The Alt’s Bookshelf is a series where our staff highlights some of their favorite books and zines related to music. For our third volume, Bineet shares new reads including Your Song Changed My Life by Bob Boilen, PUP the zine, volume 4: Quaranzine, and Convergent Lines by Jackson Watkins.

Thank You, I’m Sorry showed off their strong songwriting earlier this year with their acoustic debut, The Malta House. Now, the group is back with a full-band follow-up, which takes a handful of songs from The Malta House, adds a few new tunes, and replaces the acoustic instrumentation with a rollicking rhythm section, candid vocals and jangly, melodic guitar work.

Iceland’s VAR dropped their sophomore LP The Never-Ending Year earlier this year on Spartan Records. It’s a beautiful flurry of spacious post-rock, anthemic alt-rock, and even languid dream pop at times. We’re premiering the video for single “Run,” which finds the band performing on a beach framed by crashing waves. It’s the perfect backdrop for this track

Listen to the new single, "Comatose," by the effortlessly infectious New York based band, Coupons.

Michelle spoke with New Jersey post-hardcore band Gatherers about changing labels, releasing a new album, and being encouraged by their fans throughout the pandemic.