Music

Motion City Soundtrack wrote some of the best hooks in alternative music and played a huge role in forming the taste of many music fans. However the stress of releasing and touring on 6 albums in 12 years got to be too intense, and in 2016, MCS went on hiatus. After some reunion shows, and a COVID year off, they discuss where things stand.

This is an album that deals with the visceral malaise ingrained in our very existence and looks at it from all angles. You can hear the songwriter, Caleb Cordes achieving epiphanies or reaching a breaking point in nearly every track, and his songwriting feels truly unique. 

An emo-ish new song from Cliffdiver, the amazing debut single from Thank You Thank You, and an emotionally complex new album from Nothing But Thieves were among our staff's favorites from last week. Check out all 14 new releases that we deem 'must-hear':

Last year’s Madrigal EP brought Equipment some success with its immediately gripping pop-punk style. Just over a year later, the band is back with a new EP, All You Admire, made up of their four best songs yet. Zac chatted with bandleader Nick Stoup about the EP-writing process.

In his long career, John Darnielle’s greatest strength has been his ability to sing from the perspective of characters who may be nothing like him and make it believable. On the Mountain Goats' latest album, their 12th as a full band, and 19th overall, Darnielle casts himself in his strangest roles yet. The result is some of the best songs of his career.

“Buddy,” the newest release from Seattle-based Seth Little’s project, Hello, I’m Sorry, is a gentle rocking chair and a cup of cinnamon tea in a rainstorm. The guitar leads are complex and effective, but always appear appropriately in the mix and in the structure of the song. Little’s vocals are lilting and comfortable, like we’ve been buddies forever.

Stream 'TEPHRA: (RE)LOADED,' the latest from Richmond, Virginia duo INDEX.

New Jersey-based artist Matt Baker's latest indie album is filled with layered harmonies and attention to detail. Stream it now ahead of its release on Friday.

Cicala, one of the most original post-country bands formulating that genre, are gearing up to release their self titled third LP. If you’ve never listened to Cicala, imagine what the sad cowboy emoji sounds like, and you’re pretty spot-on. Alternately, check out “Truck Stop,” the first single off their new album out January 5, we’ve got an exclusive premiere of it's video.

The Big Easy are the house band playing weekly in the dive bar of my dreams. On A Long Year, the struggle to make it through each situation is presented so physically you can’t help but let the dirty, over-torqued guitars wash over you and just… deal with it. But, you deal with it by dancing.

Zac interviewed Spanish Love Songs on their quarantine life, starting a Patreon, and their latest release, Brave Faces Everyone.

Wednesday's debut LP came out this February and was an excellent AOTY contender. Unfortunately, the COVID pandemic has made promoting music extremely difficult, and the record had trouble with it's release. Finally now, Wednesday are ready to give their album the release show it deserves on November 13th, via live stream.